Explanation
“When the priest unveils the chalice for the Offertory, he represents Christ stripped of his garments and bound to the pillar. The offering of the bread on the paten, denotes Christ offering up his body to be scourged. The mingling of the water with the wine, denotes the water and blood that flowed from his side on the cross. The offering the chalice with the wine, represents Christ scourged, and the streams of his blood flowing down upon the ground. The covering the chalice with the paten, represents him crowned with thorns, and treated as a mock king. The washing of the fingers at the Lavabo , reminds us how Pilate washed his hands before the multitude, and pronounced Christ innocent and just. The Orate Fratres reminds us that Christ was shown to the people with ensigns of mock royalty, Pilate crying out at the same time: Ecce Homo , Behold the man. The priest saying the Secret Prayers in silence, represents Christ condemned to be crucified, and submitting to the unjust sentence without any defence or reply. The Preface, (so called because it serves as an introduction to the Canon of the Mass,) and the Canticle of the Hebrew children, which are repeated with a loud voice, remind us that Christ was loaded with the cross; the pious Hosanna being changed into the clamorous and cruel Crucifige , or crucify him.”