Carteglo(r)ia

CARTEGLORIA. - In order to assist the celebrant’s memory, from the sixteenth century onward it was customary to place in the middle of the altar a card containing certain prayers of the Mass; s. Carlo, in the synod of 1576, mentions for the first time the 3 tabellae. The central card, which is the only one prescribed, contains prayers of the Canon and of the Offertory (Canon minor), and for this reason it was called tabella secretarum or card of the Canon. Other texts are generally added as well, such as those of the Gloria in excelsis, the Credo, the Munda cor, the Supplices te rogamus, and the Placeat tibi, because of the difficulty of using the missal during their recitation, since the priest must remain bent over the altar. The card on the Epistle side contains the psalm Lavabo and the prayer Deus qui humanae substantiae; that on the Gospel side contains the beginning of the Gospel according to Giovanni. For bishops, however, the so-called Canon episcopalis is used, that is, the book containing the Canon. During the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament they must be removed (S. Congr. dei Riti, decr. 3130 ad 3). At first they probably contained only the tones for the intonation of the Gloria, and perhaps derived their name from this. It is essential that the contents of the c. be easily legible.