the people are collected together, the epistle and gospel, and also
the verses, said or sung between them both, called the Gradual[10]:
if sung by one voice, it is called the Tract; if by choir, the
Responsory. The collects and other prayers are said with the arms
extended in the same manner as many figures are represented praying on
old christian as well as pagan monuments. After the gospel the sermon
used to be preached, as it generally is in our times[11] and after
the sermon Pagans, Jews, heretics, schismatics, energumens, public
penitents and catechumens were dismissed by the deacon; for the
faithful alone were allowed to be present at the celebration of the
sacred mysteries, in conformity to the discipline of secrecy. That
part of mass, which we have described was called the mass of the
catechumens, because these were allowed to be present at it.

[Sidenote: Mass of the faithful, blessed water.]

From the _missio_, _missa_, or dismissal announced by the deacon to
the people before and after the mass of the faithful, the term _missa_
or mass is derived. It was in use in the early ages; for it is found
not only in the epistle to the bishop of Vienne attributed to Pope
Pius I, and in that of Pope Cornelius to Lupicinus: but S. Ambrose
also says "I continued my duty, and began to celebrate mass" and in
another place he exhorts the people to "hear mass daily[12]".

When the church had been cleared of all except the faithful, the
second part of our mass, or the mass of the faithful, began with the
Nicene symbol or creed. Then followed the offertory, or part of a
psalm sung anciently while the people made their offerings to the
church, particularly of bread and wine[13]. The priest offers to God
the bread, and wine mixed according to apostolic tradition[14] with