Carteglo(r)ia

CARTEGLO(R)IA. - To aid the celebrant's memory, from as early as the 16th century a tablet was customarily placed in the middle of the altar, containing certain prayers of the Mass; St. Charles, in the synod of 1576, mentions the 3 tabellae for the first time. The middle tablet, which is the only one prescribed, contains prayers of the Canon and of the Offertory (Canon minor) and for this reason was called tabella secretarum or of the Canon. Generally other texts are also added, such as those of the Gloria in excelsis, the Creed, the Munda cor, the Supplices te rogamus and the Placeat tibi, and this because of the difficulty of using the missal during their recitation, since the priest must remain bowed over the altar. The tablet at the Epistle side contains the psalm Lavabo and the prayer Deus qui humanae substantiae; the one at the Gospel side the beginning of the Gospel according to John. For bishops, however, the so-called Canon episcopalis is used, that is, the book containing the Canon. During the exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament they must be removed (S. Congr. of Rites, decr. 3130 ad 3). At first they probably contained only the tones of the intonation of the Gloria, and from this perhaps they took their name. It is essential that the content of the c. be easily legible.