1º. At High Mass, ought the celebrant to elevate the Host before the
choir has terminated the singing of the Sanctus and following words?
_Answer_: The _Caeremoniale Episcop._ lib. ii. no. 70, gives the answer:
"Chorus prosequitur cantum usque ad _Benedictus qui venit_ exclusive:
quo _finito et non prius_ elevatur sacramentum. Tunc silet chorus et
cum aliis adorat. Organum vero, si habetur, cum omni tunc melodia et
gravitate pulsandum est". The celebrant ought to proceed slowly with the
canon, so as to give time to the choir to terminate their part before he
comes to the elevation. The choir ought to be cautioned not to protract
the singing of the Sanctus too much.
2º. At High Mass, when the celebrant has sung "Et ne nos inducas in
tentationem", in the Pater Noster, is he bound to wait until the choir
has finished singing "Sed libera nos a malo", before he says Amen?
_Answer:_ According to a ceremonial much esteemed in Rome, published by
a missionary of St. Vincent, in Bologna, 1854, l. iv. no. 1484, the
priest is bound to wait. The choir _agit partem ministri_ in its answers
at High Mass, and on that account the priest must wait until it responds
to him, as on other occasions he waits until the server or clerk
terminates his answers.
After the priest has sung "Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum", he must also
wait until the choir has sung "Et cum spiritu tuo", before he says "Haec
commixtio", etc.
3º. When the deacon has sung "Ite Missa est", can the celebrant, without
waiting for the choir to answer "Deo gratias", turn to the altar and say
the prayer "Placeat"?
_Answer_: The _Caeremoniale_, Ep. l. ii. c. viii. no. 78, says: "Diaconus
vertit faciem ad populum, renes autem celebranti ... et cantat (Ite missa
est) ... quo dicto, _ipse_ et _celebrans simul_ vertunt se per latus
epistolae ad altare, et celebrans dicit (Placeat tibi, S. Trinitas,
etc)". As the singing of "Deo gratias" occupies so short a time, it will
terminate before the priest can turn to the altar; in any case, he ought
not to commence the Placeat until the choir has responded.