The priest now ascends the steps to the altar of sacrifice while inaudibly he prays:
” Take away from us our iniquities, we beseech Thee, Lord, that with pure minds we may worthily enter into the holy of holies. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Then kissing the altar, he continues:
“We beseech Thee, O Lord, by the merits of Thy Saints whose relics lie here, and of all the Saints, deign in Thy mercy to pardon me all my sins. Amen.”
We can pray thus: “Lord Jesus Christ, who didst suffer Judas to betray Thee with a kiss; grant that I may never betray Thee in my neighbor or myself; nor ever return evil to my enemies, but rather to be charitable to them.”
In the N.O., the celebrant often uses the option of addressing the congregation with an impromtu explanation on the theme of the day, this while standing by his presider’s chair.
