Having described the ceremonies of low-mass, we shall subjoin a brief account of those customary at high-mass when celebrated in the papal chapel:  we shall thus avoid unnecessary repetitions in the course of this work.  The beginning of the mass is said by all persons within the sanctuary:  and the Pope recites it before the altar with the celebrant.  As His Holiness is the ecclesiastical superior of the latter, and is habited in his sacred vestments, many benedictions are, according to a general rubric, reserved to Him, which are otherwise given by the person who sings mass.  Thus He blesses not only the incense, the water at the offertory, the subdeacon and deacon, the preacher, when there is a sermon, and the people after the sermon and at the end of mass, but also the Cardinals on several occasions, and the celebrant himself before he offers up mass.  “For without contradiction (says St. Paul) that which is less is blessed by the better”.  Hebr.  VII, 7.  He also, and not the celebrant, kisses the book of the Gospel.  The first cardinal priest present hands to Him the incense, and also incenses him, kneeling down if the Pope be seated at the time, and standing if the Pope stands[22], and therefore, he is seated near the Pope during part of the Mass, that he may be ready when his services are required.

Incense is used, as is customary at high masses, before the introit, at the Gospel, after the offertory and during the elevation.  Before the introit the crucifix, the altar[23], the celebrant and the Pope are successively incensed.  Before the deacon sings the gospel he incenses the book; and after it the Pope is once more incensed by the first cardinal priest.  After the offertory, besides the bread and wine, the crucifix, the altar, the celebrant and the Pope, the Cardinals and the first in rank among the prelates and other personages are incensed by the deacon.  At the elevation the blessed Sacrament alone is incensed.[24]

When the Pope reads from the missal, this book is held by the first, and a taper by the second, patriarch or assisting bishop[25].  The Kyrie eleison, the Gloria in excelsis, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei are said by all persons within the sanctuary:  the cardinals descend from their seats to say them, and form a circle in the middle of the chapel; having received the Pope’s blessing they return to their places.  After the Sanctus, the Pope goes before the middle of the altar followed by the assistant bishops and others of His train’s and all kneel till the elevation is ended.  After the Agnus Dei, the first Card. priest goes up to the altar, kisses it, and receives from the celebrant the kiss of peace:  this he gives to the Pope, from whom the two first Card. deacons receive it.  The Card. priest then returns to his place, and gives the kiss of peace to the priest who assists the celebrant; from him the first of the other cardinals and principal prelates receive it and communicate it