The priest took a step back, his movements reflecting the solemnity of the moment. With a subtle gesture, he yielded his place in front of the altar to the deacon, who approached with reverence to play his role in the liturgy.
The deacon, aware of the attentive gaze of the congregation, bowed slightly before the altar before addressing the faithful.
The deacon turned to the congregation, his expression one of deep devotion. "Now, united as one family in Christ, let us pray together the prayer He taught us," he said, extending his hands towards the faithful.
The standing community prepared to recite the Church's most sacred and universal prayer. The deacon began, setting the tone for everyone to join:
"Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
The congregation continued in a loud and clear voice, each word resonating with the strength of shared faith:
"Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil."
The deacon concluded the prayer with a plea that embraced the hopes and concerns of all present:
"Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our days, that, aided by Your mercy, we may always be free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the glorious coming of our Savior Jesus Christ."
And the congregation responded with one voice, full of faith and hope:
"For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever, Lord."
After the prayer, the deacon invited the congregation to share the Sign of Peace. "Brothers and sisters," he said with a calm voice, "let us offer each other the sign of peace. A handshake, a hug, expresses our communion in Christ. If you prefer, you can simply bow to others as a sign of our unity in the love and peace of the Lord."
The church filled with gestures of peace: handshakes, gentle hugs, and discreet bows. The atmosphere was imbued with a spirit of harmony and goodwill.
The priest watched closely, his heart full of pride for his community's faith. With a gesture of blessing, he joined the final acclamation, sealing the prayer with the certainty that each petition had been heard.
After the warm exchange of peace among the faithful, the deacon addressed the congregation with a calm and clear voice: "Now, let us prepare for the sacred moment of the Breaking of the Bread, a sign of the unity and love of Christ who gives Himself for us."
The priest, with deep reverence, approached the altar where the consecrated bread lay. His hands, trembling with devotion, were raised over the host as the assembly fell into an expectant silence. "This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," he proclaimed solemnly, and the community responded with one voice: "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."
With delicacy, the priest broke the host, the soft sound of the bread breaking echoed in the silence of the church. Meanwhile, the choir began the chant of the Agnus Dei, their voices rising in a melody that was both a plea and praise:
"Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem."
Each breaking of the bread was an echo of Christ's sacrifice, and each plea for mercy and peace intertwined with the hope of redemption. The priest placed a fragment of the host into the chalice, symbolizing the union of the Body and Blood of Christ, as the prayer of the Agnus Dei came to an end.
The congregation watched in adoration, preparing to receive the Eucharist, the spiritual nourishment that would strengthen them in their faith and unite them more deeply with the salvific love of God.
The deacon, with a clear and serene voice, addressed the crowd still resonating with the newly shared peace. "Brothers and sisters, let us approach with humble hearts and grateful spirits to receive Holy Communion. You may form a line in front of the Lord's altar," he announced, marking the start of the Eucharistic procession.
With those words, he discreetly turned and headed towards the sacristy, the space reserved next to the altar, where the consecrated bread and wine were kept. Meanwhile, the congregation began to rise from the pews, their movements full of reverence and order.
The line formed naturally, starting with the noble Urraca, followed by the chief stewards and cooks, whose position at court afforded them a place of precedence. After them, the principal maids joined the procession, their faces reflecting the solemnity of the act they were about to perform.
The other stewards and cooks lined up behind, followed by the remaining maids, each waiting their turn to approach the altar. The line stretched along the central nave, a river of devotion flowing towards the source of sacramental grace.
However, not everyone joined the line. Sancha and the twins remained seated on their bench, wrapped in contemplative silence. Their absence from the line did not go unnoticed, but the attention of most was focused on the act of faith unfolding before them.
The deacon returned from the sacristy with the Eucharistic species, ready to assist the priest in the distribution of Communion. The bread, now the Body of Christ, and the wine, His Blood, awaited to be shared with the faithful, uniting all in one mystical body.
The ceremony continued quietly, and each person who approached the altar did so with a mix of humility and joy, aware of the immense gift they were about to receive.