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SARUM
LITURGY
The
Liturgy of St. Peter the Apostle,
also called the Liturgy of St. Gregory the Great, as Preserved in
Old England, i.e.,
the Sarum Mass---with simplified rubrics--English
translation by Fr. Hieromonk Aidan (Keller)
(c) 1998 St. Hilarion Press
Back
to LITURGICAL TEXTS PROJECT
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| "At
that hour of the Sacrifice, at the words of
the Priest, the heavens are opened, and in
that mystery of Jesus Christ, the choirs of
Angels are present, and things below are
joined to things on high, earthly things to
heavenly, and the service is both a visible
and an invisible event."
St. Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome (604) |
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ORDER
OF SERVICES
After
Matins and the First Hour, holy water is blessed
afresh each Sunday in the year, as shown in the
Missal. After the sprinkling of the people (they
approach one by one for sprinkling), and the
versicle and collect at the choir step, the
procession sets out.
PROCESSION
On
all Sundays and on the greater Feasts, the Liturgy
is preceded by a Procession.
On greater Feasts, the procession goes outside the
church building; most Sundays, within the church
walls.
FIRST
ENTRANCE 1
The
choir sings the Officium,2
during which the clergy & servers enter into the
chancel & start their prayers.
The
Priest begins these soft prayers during the singing
of the Officium, as the clergy are ranged at the
choir step:
Kyrieléyson.
Xristeléyson. Kyrieléyson.
Our Father...
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V.
And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us
from evil.
V.
O confess to the Lord, for He is good.
R. For His
mercy endureth for ever.
Ps.
117:1 Priest:
I
confess to God, to blessed Mary, to all the Saints,
and to you: that I have sinned exceedingly in
thought, word and deed, through my fault. I beseech
Holy Mary, all the Saints of God, and you, to pray
for me.3
Ministers:
May almighty God have mercy on thee, forgive thee
all thy sins, deliver thee from all evil, preserve
and strengthen thee in good, and bring thee to
eternal life. Priest:
Amen. Ministers:
I confess to God, to blessed Mary, to all the
Saints, and to thee: that I have sinned exceedingly
in thought, word and deed, through my fault. I
beseech Holy Mary, all the Saints of God, and thee,
to pray for me.
Priest:
May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all
your sins, deliver you from all evil, preserve and
strengthen you in good, and bring you to eternal
life.
R. Amen.
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Priest:
May the almighty and merciful Lord grant you
(pardon)* and remission
of all your sins, space for true repentance and
amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of
the Holy Spirit. R. Amen.
*
A Bishop says, instead of pardon, absolution.
V.
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who hath made
heaven and the earth.
V.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
R. From
henceforth and for evermore.
Ps
123:9, 112:3
Priest:
Let us
pray.
KISS
OF PEACE4
Receive
the kiss of peace and love, that ye may be fit to
perform the Divine services at the most holy Altar.
Let
us pray. Take away from us all our iniquities, we
beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may be worthy to enter
with pure minds into the Holy of Holies, through
Christ our Lord. Amen. (cf.
Osëe 14:3).
I
stand before the sight of Thy Divine majesty, O most
merciful Father, O God, though I am not worthy, and
I humbly entreat Thine
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unspeakable
mercy: that Thou Who hast granted me to perform the
ministry of the priestly office wouldst make me well
pleasing to Thee for ever, and worthy to celebrate
so tremendous a Mystery. In the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The
Priest kisses the altar.
CENSING5
Server:
Benedícite.
Priest: Dóminus. May this incense be
blessed by Him in Whose honour it shall be burnt, in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
The
four sides of the altar are censed, then the Relics,
the chancel, the clergy, the icons, and the
people.
KYRIE-LITANY6
(can vary)
Deacon:
O Lord and everlasting King, upon this
congregation singing praises unto Thee have mercy
for ever.
Choir:
Kyrieléyson. (Lord, have mercy.)
Deacon:
O most
compassionate King, the first in majesty, with
clear-resounding voices do we ask of Thee
steadfastly to have mercy upon us.
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Choir:
Kyrieléyson.
Deacon:
O King
Who dealest wonderfully, Son of Thy life-bearing
mother Mary, because of Thy tender mercy,
unceasingly have mercy upon us.
Choir:
Kyrieléyson.
Deacon:
O
Christ, Whom in the height of Thy bright-shining
palace the heaven-dwelling gloriously praise
together, ever-radiantly shining with a beauty far
excelling: have mercy on Thine adopted children.
Choir:
Xristeléyson. (Christ, have mercy.)
Deacon:
O
Christ, begotten at the word of Thy Father, O
glorious One, enduring the Cross for the salvation
of all that Thou hadst made, Who having conquered
death art risen, have mercy upon us.
Choir:
Xristeléyson.
Deacon:
O
Christ, Who with quivering fire of bright radiance
didst send to Thy disciples from on high the Spirit,
mightier than all in power, equal unto Thee, have
mercy upon us.
Choir:
Xristeléyson.
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Deacon:
O Lord
up on high, to Whom thousands of thousands of Angels
mightily and worthily give praise, in ever-humble
wise do we entreat Thee, our Father, have mercy upon
us.
Choir:
Kyrieléyson.
Deacon:
O
nourishing Lord, the flock of Thy congregation doth
shout for joy with all their heart to Thee in
heavenly praises, and with beauty, that Thou wouldst
be pleased to have mercy upon them for ever.
Choir:
Kyrieléyson.
Deacon:
O
merciful Lord, receiving our glorifications in the
citadel of heaven, after the end of all flesh unite
us with Thee, and have mercy on us without end.
Choir:
Kyrieléyson.
SECOND
ENTRANCE
During
the Kyrie-Litany, a procession forms and the
Elements are brought into the chancel -- the bread,
wine, and water for the Sacrifice.
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HYMN
OF THE ANGELS 7
sometimes omitted
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For
a Bishop, two cantors sing: O
Priest of the Most High God, come before the
holy and sacred Altar, and in praise of the
King of kings send thou forth thy voice.
Humbly we entreat thee, come then, thus say,
O Master. Then
the cantor intones softly: Glory
be.
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Priest
(or Bishop): Glory be to God in the
highest.
We
all sing:
And on earth peace to men of good will. | We praise
Thee. | We bless Thee. | (bow:)
We worship Thee. | We glorify Thee. | We give thanks
to Thee for Thy great glory. | O Lord God, Heavenly
King, God the Father almighty. | O Lord, the
only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. | O Lord God, Lamb
of God, Son of the Father, | that takest away the
sins of the world: have mercy upon us. | That takest
away the sins of the world: (bow:)
receive our prayer. | That sittest at the right hand
of the Father: have mercy upon us. | For Thou only
art holy. | Thou only art the Lord. | Thou only art
most high. (bow:) O
Jesus Christ, | with the Holy Spirit, in the glory
of + God the Father.
Amen.
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GREETING 8
Priest:
The Lord be with you.
People: And with thy spirit.9
Bishop:
Peace be unto you.
People: And with thy spirit. |
Priest
or Bishop: Let us pray.
COLLECTS
We
bow our heads for the Collects;
these prayers vary but conclude:
Priest:
...God through all the ages of ages.10
R. Amen.
APOSTLE
OR LESSON 11
The
Subdeacon (or other Reader) sings the Apostle
or Lesson.
THIRD
ENTRANCE
During
the Apostle (but, more often in practice, between
the Apostle and Gospel) a procession forms and the
Vessels are brought into the chancel -- the chalice,
paten, and burse.
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GRADUALE
/ ALLELUYA /
SEQUENCE / TRACT 12
While
the choir sings the Graduale
and following chants, water is blessed & wine
& water are poured into the chalice. Bread is
laid on the plate called the paten. Cloths called
"corporals" are spread over the altar by
the Deacons, & the Gospel book is censed:
The
Priest blesses the water in the cruet:
Server:
Jube, Dómine, benedícere. Priest:
Dóminus. May it be blessed by Him from Whose side
there came forth blood and water, in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. (see Jn. 19:34)
The
Priest blesses the incense:
Server:
Benedícite. Priest:
Dóminus. May this incense be blessed by Him
in Whose honour it shall be burnt, in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The
Deacon censes the Gospel book. Then he bows before
the Priest and quietly asks the blessing:
Deacon:
Grant, O Lord, to bless. Priest:
May the Lord be in thy heart and upon thy
mouth to declare the Holy Gospel of God. In the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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Deacon:
O Lord, give me in my mouth a speech right and
resonant, that I may proclaim the words of Thy
Gospel with proficiency.
GOSPEL 13
Deacon:
The Lord be with you.
People: And with
thy spirit.
Deacon:
The continuation of the Holy Gospel,
according to N.
People: Glory +
be to Thee, O Lord.
The
Deacon sings the Gospel,
and when it is ended, there is no response, but in
silence the people cross themselves and make a deep
bow. The book is kissed by the clergy, and, in some
places, by the people.
SERMON
In
parishes, the people sit during the sermon or
homily. It is given here or after the Symbol.
SYMBOL
OF FAITHSundays & Feasts 14
Priest:
I believe in one God. The
people + cross themselves, bow, then sing:
The
Father almighty, | Maker of heaven and earth, and of
all things visible and invisible. | And in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
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the only-begotten Son of God. | And born of the
Father before all ages. | God of God, Light of
Light, true God of true God. | Begotten, not made,
consubstantial to the Father, by Whom all things
were made, | Who for us men, and for our salvation, (bow:)
came down from heaven,| (bow:)
and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the
Virgin Mary | (bow:)
and was made man. | He was crucified also for us
under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried. |
And the third day He rose again, according to the
Scriptures. | And ascended into heaven; sitteth at
the right hand of the Father. | And He is to come
again with glory to judge both the living and the
dead, of Whose kingdom there shall be no end. | And
in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, |
Who proceedeth from the Father. | Who together with
the Father and the Son (bow:)
is adored and glorified, Who spake by the
Prophets. | And in one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic
Church. | I confess one Baptism for the remission of
sins. | And I expect the resurrection of the dead.
(bow:) And the
life of the world to come. | Amen.
The
Priest turns to the people and sings:
V.
The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy
spirit. Priest:
Let us pray.15
OFFERENDA 16
The
choir sings the Offerenda
chant (varies).
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Meanwhile,
during the Offerenda chant the Priest prays these
Soft Prayers:
Receive,
O Holy Trinity, this oblation which I, an unworthy
sinner, offer in Thine
honour, and that of blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, and of
all Thy Saints, for my sins and offences, for the
salvation of the living and the repose of all the
faithful departed. In the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, may this new
sacrifice be acceptable to almighty God. (
prayer varies)
The
Priest veils the Gifts, saying the Prayer of St.
Ambrose:
Forgive
me, O Lord, for although it is my duty to pray,
although I take up Thy holy name with mine impure
lips, and confess the hidden sins of mine impure
deeds, I have no words before Thee which are without
transgression. For Thou knowest already the wounds
of my conscience, Thou knowest already the
concealments of my thoughts, and Thou only knowest
mine impurities. Have mercy on me, O Lord, have
mercy on me! Forgive the one performing Thy Mystery,
and do not judge me unworthy of Thy mercy, whom Thou
permittest to pray for others, and in whom is found
a single testimony of good works:
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that Thou dost not forbid me to return to Thy
service, rich at least in economia, O Saviour of the
world, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit
livest and reignest, God through all ages of ages.
Amen. 17
CENSING
Server:
Benedícite. Priest:
Dóminus. May this incense be blessed by Him
in Whose honour it shall be burnt, in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The
Priest censes the Gifts, then the front of the
altar:
Let
my prayer be set forth unto Thee, O Lord, as incense
in Thy sight, the lifting up of my hands as an
evening sacrifice. Set, O Lord, a watch before my
mouth, and a door of enclosure round about my lips.
Incline not my heart unto words of evil, to make
excuse with excuses in sins. (Ps.
140:2-4; the entire psalm may be said)
The
Deacon censes the other sides of the altar, and the
chancel; a Server finishes the censing of the icons
and people.
Oblations: 18
If you are making an offering,
go to the door of the rood-screen. Kiss the Priests
right hand, and he will say:
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Mayest
thou receive an hundredfold, and possess eternal
life, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The
Priest washes his hands:
Cleanse
me, O Lord, from all defilement of mind and body,
that being cleansed I may be able to accomplish the
holy work of the Lord.
The
Priest bows low before the altar:
In
the spirit of humility and with a contrite heart may
we be accepted of Thee, O Lord, and may our
Sacrifice be in such wise in Thy sight, that it may
be accepted by Thee this day, and pleasing unto
Thee, O Lord my God. (cf.
Dan. 3:39-40)
The
Priest kisses the altar, then raises his hands:
Come,
O Holy Spirit, bless and sanctify this Sacrifice
prepared to the praise and glory of Thy name. In the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
The
Offerenda chant having been finished, the Priest
turns to the people & says softly:
Brothers
and sisters, pray for me, (Rom.
15:30) that my and your Sacrifice
may together be acceptable unto the Lord our God.19
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The
Priest and people bow to one another.
People,
softly: May the grace of the Holy
Spirit illuminate thy heart and thy lips, and may
the Lord rightly accept this Sacrifice of praise
from thy hands, for our sins and offences. Priest,
softly: Amen.
Priest,
exclaiming aloud: Let us pray!
OVER
THE GIFTS
We
bow our heads for the Over
the Gifts;
these prayers vary but conclude:
...through
all the ages of ages. R.
Amen. (Gal.
1:5; Heb. 13:21; 1 Pet. 4:11)
Priest:
The Lord be with you.
(Ruth 2:4)
All: And with thy
spirit. (2 Tim.
4:22)
Priest:
Lift up your hearts! (Lam.
3:41)
All: We have
them unto the Lord.
Priest:
Let us give thanks unto the Lord our
God. (Col. 1:3, 1
Thess. 1:2)
All:
It is meet and just. (Deut.
12:28)
PREFACE 20
It
is truly meet and just, right and availing to
salvation, that we should always and in all places
give thanks to Thee, O Holy Lord, Father almighty,
everlasting God... (here
the appointed Preface
is sung) ... saying:
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SANCTUS 21
Cross
yourself, then bow:
Holy,
+ Holy, Holy Lord
God of Sábaoth. Heaven and earth are full of Thy
glory. Osánna in the highest. +
Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Osánna in the highest. (Is.
6:3, Mt. 21:9)
The
Priest, kissing the Cross in the Missal, says
softly: We worship Thee, O Christ, and
we bless Thee, for by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast
redeemed the world.
The
choir or clergy sing Psalms 119-133, or Psalms 19,
24, 50, 89, and 90, throughout the Canon of the
Mass.
CANON 22
Meanwhile,
the Priest sings, softly, the canon or actio
missae. Note that no bells are ever rung within
the Canon itself.
THEE,
therefore, most merciful Father, through Jesus
Christ Thy Son our Lord, we humbly pray and beseech
that Thou wouldst accept and bless these Gifts,
these Presents, these holy, unspotted Sacrifices,
which in the first place we offer Thee for Thy Holy
Catholic Church, to which vouchsafe to grant peace,
as also to preserve, unite, and govern it throughout
the world, together with
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Thy
most blessed servant our (Patriarch or Chief
Hierarch) N. and our (Arch-)Bishop N., as also all
the Orthodox, and professors of the Catholic and
Apostolic Faith.
Remember,
O Lord, Thy servants and handmaidens, N. & N.,
and all who are high-placed, that they may lead a
calm and quiet life with faith in Thee: and
whomsoever are joined to me by blood-ties or
intimacy, and whomsoever have extended to me any
labour of love or mercy, and who have remembrance of
me in their prayers, and who have commended
themselves to mine unworthy prayers, and those to
whom I have been some hindrance or stumbling-block,
and whomsoever have brought upon me any hardship,
and of all communities of monks, canons, and nuns,
whose names and number Thou alone knowest, O
almighty God: and of all our neighbours, and of
those whose alms we have received, or whose names
are kept in writing upon Thy holy altar, and who
have made confession to us of their own
transgressions, and of all here standing, whose
faith is perceived, and whose devotion is known unto
Thee: for whom we offer, or who offer, to Thee this
Sacrifice of praise for themselves and all their
own: for the redemption of their souls, for the
health and salvation they hope for,
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and
for which they now pay their vows unto Thee, the
eternal, living, and true God.
The
"Communicantes" sometimes varies:
In
communion with, and honouring in the first place the
memory of, the glorious Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of
our Lord and God Jesus Christ, as also of Thy
blessed Apostles and Martyrs: Peter and Paul,
Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip,
Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus: of Linus,
Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian,
Laurence, Vincent, Chrysogonus, John and Paul,
Cosmas and Damian, of George, Hilary, Martin,
Benedict, Gregory, Augustine, Amandus, Florentius, (here
the main Saint of the day may be named) and
of all Thy Saints, through whose righteousness and
prayers grant that we may be always defended by the
help of Thy protection, through the same Christ our
Lord. R. Amen. 23
The
following prayer, the Hanc Igitur, sometimes varies.
This
oblation, therefore, of our servitude, and of Thy
whole family, we beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously to
accept: to dispose our days in Thy peace, and to
preserve us from eternal damnation, and to rank us
in the number of Thine elect,
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through
Christ our Lord. R. Amen. 24
Which
oblation do Thou, O almighty God, vouchsafe in all
respects to bless, approve, ratify, make reasonable,
and accept, we beseech Thee: that it may be made for
us the Body and Blood of Thy dearly beloved Son, our
Lord and God Jesus Christ,
Who,
the day before He suffered, took bread into His holy
and venerable hands, and with His eyes lifted up
towards heaven to Thee, almighty God His Father,
giving thanks to Thee, He blessed, brake, and gave
it to His disciples, saying: Take and eat this, all
of you, for this is My Body (Mt.
26:26, Mk. 14:22, Lk. 22:19). 25
In
like manner, after He had supped, taking also this
excellent Chalice into His holy and venerable hands,
giving Thee also thanks, He blessed, and gave it to
His disciples, saying: Take and drink this, all of
you, for this is the chalice of My Blood, of the new
and eternal testament, the mystery of faith, which
shall be shed for you and for many, for the
remission of sins. As often as ye do these things,
ye shall do them in remembrance of Me (Mt.
26:27-28; Lk. 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:25).
Therefore
we beseech Thee, O Lord, to send down Thy Holy
Spirit upon this Sacrifice,
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that
He may make this bread the precious Body of Thy
Christ, and this chalice the precious Blood of Thy
Son our Lord Jesus Christ, changing Them by the Holy
Spirit.
Wherefore
also, O Lord, we Thy servants, as also Thy holy
people, calling to mind the blessed Passion of the
same Christ Thy Son, our Lord God, His Resurrection
from the dead and glorious Ascension into heaven,
offer unto Thy most excellent Majesty, of Thy gifts
bestowed upon us, a pure Lamb, 26
a holy Lamb, an unspotted Lamb, the Holy Bread of
eternal life, and the Chalice of everlasting
salvation, upon which vouchsafe to look with a
propitious and serene countenance, and to accept
them, as Thou wert graciously pleased to accept the
gifts of Thy just servant Abel, and the sacrifice of
our patriarch Abraham, and that which Thy high
priest Melchisedech offered to Thee: a holy
Sacrifice, an unspotted Victim.
We
most humbly beseech Thee, almighty God... (here
he prays for whoever is most in need) ...
Command these things to be carried by the hands of
Thy Holy Angel to Thine altar on high, in the sight
of Thy Divine Majesty: that as many of us as shall
receive the most sacred Body and Blood of Thy Son by
partaking at this Altar, |
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may be filled with every heavenly grace and
blessing, through the same Christ our Lord. R.
Amen. 27
Remember
me, I pray Thee, O Lord, and have mercy, although
these holy sacrificial elements are offered to Thee,
O Holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God,
unworthily by my hands who am not even worthy to
call upon Thy holy and worship-inspiring name. But
inasmuch as they are offered up in honour, praise,
and remembrance of Thy most glorious and beloved
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, let Them be enkindled
with a fragrance of sweetness, as incense in the
sight of Thy Divine majesty, through the same our
Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God
through all the ages of ages. R.
Amen.
Remember
also, O Lord, the souls of Thy servants and
handmaidens, N. and N., (the
Deacon says the names commemorated) who are
gone before us with the sign of faith, and rest in
the sleep of peace. To these, O Lord, and to all
that sleep in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a
place of refreshment, light, and peace. Through the
same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.
Also
to us sinners Thy servants, confiding in the
multitude of Thy mercies,
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vouchsafe
to grant some part and fellowship with Thy holy
Apostles and Martyrs: with John, Stephen, Matthias,
Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter,
Kenelm; Felicitas, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes,
Cecilia, Anastasia, Genevieve, Eulalia, Euphemia,
Etheldreda, Gertrude, and with all Thy Saints, into
whose company we beseech Thee to admit us, not in
consideration of our merit, but of Thine own
gratuitous pardon, through Christ our Lord. R.
Amen.
By
Whom, O Lord, Thou dost always create, sanctify,
quicken, bless, and bestow
upon us all these good things. By Him, and with Him,
and in Him, is to Thee, God +
the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all
honour and glory ...
ELEVATION
& DOXOLOGY
The
Priest and Deacon elevate the Gifts, the Priest
singing loudly:
...
Through all the ages of ages! R.
Amen.
The
Priest and Deacon veil the Gifts:
Priest:
Let us pray. Instructed by saving precepts,
and guided by Divine institution, we presume to
say: 29
The
Priest raises his hands; the Deacon, the paten:
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LORD'S
PRAYER
Our
Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and
forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And
lead us not into temptation.
People:
But deliver us from evil.
Priest softly: Amen. Priest,
singing aloud:
Deliver
us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all evils, past,
present, and to come, and by the intercession of the
blessed and glorious and Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of
God, and of Thy chosen Archangels Michael, Gabriel,
and Raphael, and of blessed John the Baptist Thy
Forerunnner, and of Thy blessed Apostles Peter and
Paul, and of Andrew, N. and N., (the
Deacon names todays Saints...) Priest:
... with all the Saints, mercifully grant peace in
our days, that through the assistance of Thy mercy
we may be always free from sin and secure from all
disturbance, through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son
our Lord, + Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, God,
The
Priest exclaims loudly:
Through
all the ages of ages! R.
Amen.
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BISHOPS
BLESSING 30
Deacon:
O Prince of the Church, shepherd to the
sheep, may it please thee to bless the people
entrusted to thy care. (to
the people:) With meekness and with
charity, bow down yourselves for a
blessing. R. Thanks
be to God.
The
Bishop sings the proper Blessing
over the people; to each petition we sing in
answer: Amen.
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Priest:
The peace of the Lord be always with
you. 31
People:
And
with thy spirit. (cf.
2 Thess. 3:16)
AGNUS
DEI 32
Sometimes
varies. At the words "O Lamb of
God," cross yourself and bow.
Chanter:
+ O Lamb of God,
All:
That takest away the sins of the world: have
mercy upon us.
Chanter:
+ O Lamb of God,
All:
That takest away the sins of the world: have
mercy upon us.
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Chanter:
+ O Lamb of God,
All: That takest away
the sins of the world: have mercy upon
us. (Jn. 1:29)
And
/ or the Agnus is sung in Latin:
Chanter:
+ Agnus Dei,
All: Qui tollis
peccáta mundi: miserére nobis. (3x)
Meanwhile
the Priest, having prayed the Agnus softly with the
other clergy, with three bows, adds these Soft
Prayers:
May
this most holy +
mingling (lowers part of the
Lamb into the chalice) of the Body and Blood
of our Lord Jesus Christ be to me and to all
receiving It health of mind and body, and a salutary
preparation for being made worthy of eternal life
and laying hold upon it, through the same Christ our
Lord. R. Amen.
O
Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst say to Thine Apostles,
"My peace I give unto you, peace I leave with
you," (Jn.
14:27)
look not upon my sins, but upon the faith of
Thy Church, and by Thy will vouchsafe to pacify, to
protect, and to unite it, Who with the Father and
the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, God through all
the ages of ages. R. Amen.
O
Holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, grant
us so worthily to receive this most holy Body and
Blood of Thy Son our Lord
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Jesus
Christ, that by this we may deserve to receive the
remission of all our sins, and to be filled with Thy
Holy Spirit, and to possess Thy peace. For Thou
alone art God, and there is none other beside Thee,
Whose glorious kingdom abideth unto the ages of
ages. R. Amen.
The
Priest kisses the clergy, saying:
Peace
be to thee and to the Church of God.
R. And with thy spirit.33
The
pax icon of Christ is brought out by a server for
the people to reverence & kiss.
Communion
Song 34
(varies)
Meanwhilethe
Priest prays the Soft Prayers before Communion 35
O
God the Father, fount and source of all good, Who,
led by loving-kindness, didst will Thine
Only-Begotten to descend to the lowest world and to
take on flesh for us, which I, unworthy, here hold
in my hands, I worship Thee, I glorify Thee, I
praise Thee with the whole intention of my mind and
heart, and I pray that Thou wilt not forsake us, Thy
servants, but wilt forgive our sins so that we may
be able to serve Thee, the only living and true God,
with a pure heart and a chaste body. Through the
same Christ our Lord. R.
Amen.
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O
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Who,
according to the will of the Father, hast by Thy
death, through the co-operation of the Holy Spirit,
given life to the world: deliver me by this Thy most
sacred Body and Blood from all mine iniquities, and
from all evils, and make me always to obey Thy
commandments, and never suffer me to be separated
from Thee for ever, O Saviour of the world, Who with
God the Father and the same Holy Spirit livest and
reignest, God through all the ages of ages. R.
Amen.
Let
not the Holy Mystery of Thy Body and Blood, O Lord
Jesus Christ, which I (though unworthy) receive, be
to me for judgment and condemnation, but through Thy
mercy may It be for the salvation of my body and
soul. R. Amen.
COMMUNION
OF THE CLERGY
Each
Priest or Deacon communing says, before his own
communion:
Hail
for evermore, most holy Flesh of Christ, to me
before all and above all the highest sweetness. May
the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ be to me, a
sinner, the way and the life. Amen. In the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Hail
for evermore, heavenly Drink, to me before all and
above all the highest sweetness.
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May
the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ be to
me, a sinner, an everlasting remedy unto eternal
life, in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
CONFESSION
OF SINS 36
People:
I confess to God, to blessed Mary, to all the
Saints, and to thee, that I have sinned exceedingly
in thought, word and deed, through my fault. I
beseech Holy Mary, all the Saints of God, and thee,
to pray for me.
Priest:
May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive
you all your sins, deliver you from all evil,
preserve and strengthen you in good, and bring you
to eternal life. R. Amen.
Priest:
May the almighty and merciful Lord grant you
pardon* and remission
of all your sins, space for true repentance and
amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of
the Holy Spirit. R. Amen.
*
a Bishop says, "absolution and remission"
COMMUNION
OF THE PEOPLE
Choir:
Come, ye people, to the Holy and Immortal
Mystery, and the Offering we must make. With fear
and faith, let us draw near; with hearts made clean
by repentance let us communicate the Gifts. For the
Lamb of God is set forth to the Father, a
Sacrifice
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(choir:)
for us. Let us worship only Him, let us give
glory to Him, crying with the Angels:
Alleluya. (not sung in
Lent)
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Instructions
for Communicants
Queue up in the line of communicants with
arms crossed over your chest.
At the chalice, make a deep bow, kiss the
Priests hands, and say, "Servant
(handmaiden) of God N."
Priest: Servant
(handmaiden) of God N., may the Body and
Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ profit thee
for the remission of all thy sins and for
everlasting life. R.
Amen.
Having received, do not cross yourself or
kiss anything; sip of the ablution wine and
return to your place.
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PRAYERS
OF THANKS
Having
communed everyone, the Priest returns to the altar
and says the following prayers, punctuated by the
three ablutions by wine and water of the chalice and
of his fingers.
I
give Thee thanks, O Holy Lord, Father almighty,
everlasting God, Who hast refreshed me with the most
holy Body and Blood of Thy Son our Lord Jesus
Christ,
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and
I pray Thee that this Holy Mystery of our salvation
which I, an unworthy sinner, have received, may not
fall to my judgment, nor to condemnation, according
to my deserts, but to the advancement of my body and
soul unto life eternal, according to Thy
mercy. R. Amen.
What
we have taken with our mouth may we receive with a
pure mind, O Lord, and from a temporal gift may It
become for us the medicine of immortality. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God through all the ages of ages. R. Amen.
May
this Communion, O Lord, purge us from guilt and make
us to be partakers of the heavenly remedy. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God through all the ages of ages. R. Amen.
Blessed
be thou by thy Son, O Lady, for through thee we have
partaken of the Fruit of life.
Let
us bow down before the sign of the Cross, through
which we have received the holy mystery of
salvation.
The
reserved Gifts having been placed in the dove or
aumbrey safe with censing and preceding candles, the
Priest turns to the people:
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V.
The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy
spirit. Priest:
Let us pray.
POST-COMMUNION
PRAYERS
We
bow our heads for the Postcommunions;
these prayers vary but conclude:
Priest:
...God, through all the ages of
ages.
R. Amen.
PRAYER
OF BOWED HEADS 38
Priest:
Let us pray. Deacon:
Bow down your heads before God.
We
bow somewhat for this variable Prayer;
at the doxology we rise and cross ourselves.
Priest:
...God, through all the ages of ages.
R. Amen.
V.
The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
DISMISSAL
The
Deacon sings one of these dismissals:
V.
Go ye, Mass is ended.
R.
Thanks
be to God. or:
V.
Let us bless the
Lord.
R.
Thanks be to God.
During
the Dismissal chant, the Priest says
softly:
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Let
the performance of my homage be pleasing to Thee, O
Holy Trinity, and grant that this Sacrifice which I,
though unworthy, have offered up in the sight of Thy
majesty, may be acceptable to Thee, and through Thy
mercy be a propitiation for me and for all those for
whom I have offered it. Who livest and reignest, God
through all the ages of ages. Amen. In the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.39
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BISHOPS
BLESSING 40
V.
Our help is in the name of the
Lord.
R.
Who hath made heaven and the earth.
V.
Blessed be the name of the
Lord.
R. From
henceforth and for evermore.
V.
The Lord be with you.
R. And
with thy spirit.
Bishop:
Let us pray. May the blessing
of God, the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, come down upon you, and remain for
ever. R. Amen.
ARCHBISHOPS
BLESSING
Deacon:
Bow down yourselves for
a blessing. People:
Thanks be to God.
We
bow; he sings the Blessing
over us, each one ending: R. Amen.
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(The
Sixth Hour may be begun here.)
BLESSING
OF BREAD 41
Server:
Benedícite (Bless).
Priest: Dóminus (The Lord bless).
V.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
R.
From henceforth and for evermore.
(Ps.
112:3)
V.
Let us bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
V.
The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Priest:
Let us pray. Collect:
Bless, O Lord, this creature of bread, as
Thou didst bless the five loaves in the wilderness,
that all who partake of it may receive health of
both body and soul, in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit. R.
Amen.
We
queue up to take blessed bread, kissing the Priests
hand as we receive the bread.
THANKSGIVING
The
Priest prays this in withdrawing and unvesting, but
in some places there is the custom for the people to
pray the Thanksgiving Prayers in the nave, as well
as the Prayers after Communion (given in Orthodox
Prayers of Old England, p. 112).
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CANTICLE
OF THE THREE YOUTHS
Called the Benedícite
Daniel 3:56-88
Bless
the Lord, all ye works of the Lord : O praise ye Him
and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
Bless
the Lord, ye Angels of the Lord : ye heavens, bless
the Lord.
Bless
the Lord, all ye waters that are above the heavens :
bless the Lord, all ye powers of the Lord.
Bless
the Lord, O sun and moon : bless the Lord, ye stars
of heaven.
Bless
the Lord, ye rain and dew : bless the Lord, every
wind of God.
Bless
the Lord, fire and heat of burning : bless the Lord,
winter cold and summer heat.
Bless
the Lord, O falls of dew and frost : bless the Lord,
O ice and cold.
Bless
the Lord, O hoar-frosts and snows : bless the Lord,
O nights and days.
Bless
the Lord, O light and darkness : bless the Lord, O
lightnings and clouds.
Let
the earth bless the Lord : let her praise Him and
supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
Bless
the Lord, O mountains and hills : bless the Lord,
all things that spring up upon the earth.
Bless
the Lord, O fountains : bless the Lord, O seas and
rivers.
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Bless
the Lord, O monsters of the sea, and all things that
move in the waters : bless the Lord, all ye winged
creatures of the sky.
Bless
the Lord, all ye beasts and cattle : bless the Lord,
ye sons of men.
Let
Israël bless the Lord : let him praise Him and
supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
Bless
the Lord, ye priests of the Lord : bless the Lord,
ye servants of the Lord.
Bless
the Lord, ye spirits and ye souls of the righteous :
bless the Lord, ye Saints, and ye that be humble of
heart.
Bless
the Lord, O Ananias, Azarias, and Misaël : O praise
ye Him and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
+
Let us bless the Father and the Son with the Holy
Spirit : let us praise Him and supremely exalt Him
unto the ages.
Blessed
art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven : and
worthy of praise, and glorious, and supremely
exalted unto the ages.
PSALM
150
Praise
ye God in His saints : praise Him in the firmament
of His power.
Praise
Him for His mighty acts : praise Him according to
the multitude of His greatness.
Praise
Him with the sound of trumpet : praise Him with the
psaltery and harp.
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Praise
Him with timbrel and dance : praise Him with strings
and flute.
Praise
Him with tuneful cymbals : praise Him with cymbals
of jubilation. Let every breath praise the Lord.
+
Glory be to the Father and to the Son : and to the
Holy Spirit.
As
it was in the beginning, and now and always : and
unto the ages of ages. Amen.
CANTICLE
OF RIGHTEOUS SYMEON
called the Nunc
Dimittis Luke 2:29-32
Now
lettest Thou Thy servant depart : in peace, O
Master, according to Thy word.
For
mine eyes have seen : Thy salvation.
Which
Thou hast prepared : before the face of all peoples.
A
light of revelation for the nations : and the glory
of Thy people Israël.
+
Glory be to the Father and to the Son : and to the
Holy Spirit.
As
it was in the beginning, and now and always : and
unto the ages of ages. Amen.
antiphon:
Let us sing the hymn of the three
youths, which they sang in the furnace of fire,
blessing the Lord.
Kyrieleyson.
Xristeleyson. Kyrieleyson.
Leader:
Our Father...
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V.
And lead us not into temptation.
R.
But deliver us from evil.
V.
Let us bless O the Father and the Son with the Holy
Spirit.
R.
Let us praise Him and supremely exalt Him unto the
ages.
V.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of
heaven.
R.
And worthy of praise, and glorious, and supremely
exalted unto the ages.
(Dan.
3:88)
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Only
if a Priest or Deacon is leading:
V.
May the + Holy
Trinity bless and keep us.
R. Amen.
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V.
O Lord, enter not into judgment with Thy servant.
R.
For in Thy sight shall no man living be
justified. (Ps.
142:3)
V.
O Lord God of hosts, make us to return.
R.
And cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be
saved.
(Ps. 79:5,6) |
V.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
R.
And let my cry come unto Thee.
(Ps. 101:1)
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Only
if a Priest or Deacon is leading:
V.
The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy
spirit.
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Let
us pray.
Collect:
O God Who for the three youths didst allay
the flames of fire, mercifully grant that the flame
of sins may not consume us who are Thy servants.
Collect:
Set our reins and our heart aflame with the
fire of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, that we may serve
Thee with a chaste body and please Thee with a pure
heart.
Collect:
Our actions, we beseech Thee, O Lord, do Thou
precede by inspiring us and bring to fruition by
helping us, that all our activity and prayer may
always begin with Thee, and what is begun may be
completed by Thee. +
Through Christ our Lord. R.
Amen.
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Notes
on the Old Sarum Mass
The
Western Liturgy of St. Peter is the Communion rite
established by our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of
almighty God, put in a clear form by St. James the Lords
Brother, then, through the Holy Apostle Peter, passed down
to us by the Holy Fathers of the West, especially St.
Gregory the Great. These Fathers added beautiful and
compunctionate prayers inspired by the Holy Spirit. This
Liturgy is called the missa or "Mass"its
title according to Sts. Gregory, Ambrose, and other Holy
Fathers of the West, and which signifies "The
Oblation That is Offered."
1
Entrance: The entrance of the Priest and clergy signifies
the approach to us of Christ in His incarnation.
2
Officium: Pope St. Celestine had a psalm sung at this
point. St. Gregory the Great established the melodies of
the Officium. Regarding the Glory Be in the Officium, it
comes to us from the First Oecumenical Council of Nicæa.
Pope St. Damasus I of Rome ordained the addition "As
it was in the beginning," which is not found in the
Byzantine Rite.
3
Confession of the clergy: "Confess, therefore,
your sins one to another, and pray for one another"
(James 5:16). This prayer, called the Confíteor, goes
back to at least the 8th century.
4
Kiss of peace: "If thou offer thy gift at the
altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath any
thing against thee, leave there thy offering before the
altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother, and
then coming thou shalt offer thy gift" (Matthew
5:24). A kiss of peace at the beginning of the Mass was
ordained by Pope St. Innocent I, a friend of St. John
Chrysostom, in 407 A.D.
5
Incense: The incense shows how our prayers should rise
to heavenwith fragrance, that is, the sweet smell of a
heart burning with love for the Lord. Read Exodus,
chapters 30-40, Numbers 16:18-46, and Revelation 8:3-4.
6
Kyrieleyson: Pope St. Sylvester took "Kyrie
eleison" ("Lord, have mercy") from the
Greeks. This prayer summarises the repentant spirit of the
Prophets and their great longing to see Christ. The three
contrasting Xristeleysons ("Christ, have
mercys") in the middle were introduced in France in
the 8th century. During the Kyrie-Litany, the Priest
quietly prays the Apologiæ, profound prayers of
repentance, which are printed in the Priests service
book, called the Missal.
7
Angelic Hymn (Gloria): This 2nd century hymn is from
Luke 2:14 as introduced, with embellishment, by the
ancient Church Father St. Hilary of Poitiers. It reminds
us of the Lord Jesus birth at Bethlehem. Pope St.
Telesphorus had the Hymn of Angels sung before the
Sacrifice; Pope St. Symmachus restricted its use to
Sundays and feasts. It is omitted throughout Advent and
Lent.
8
Greeting of the people. Each time the Priest turns to
the people, it represents one of the manifestations of
Christ. His turning here, before the Collect, signifies
Christ appearing among the elders in the Temple as a youth
of twelve.
9
Greeting: "The Lord be with you" is Ruth
11:4 (see Luke 1:28, Judith 6:8, and 2 Paralipomenon
15:2). The Bishops greeting, "Peace be to
you," is from Daniel 10:19 and Luke 24:36. The peoples
reply, "And with thy spirit," is 2 Timothy 4:22.
All these phrases were sanctioned by Pope St. Anacletus.
Every time the Priest says, "The Lord be with
you," bow slightly to him.
10
"Ages of ages, amen" is from Apocalypse
(Rev.) 7:12. "Amen" is Hebrew for "It is
so!"
11
Apostle: The Apostle or Lesson of scripture signifies
the preaching of Christs 72 disciples. It is sung by
one of the clergy or by a man from the congregation. St.
Jerome of Bethlehem (5th century) laid out the order of
scripture passages to be used throughout the year, and
Pope St. Damasus I gave it his blessing; the Western Rite
has used this cycle of readings ever since.
12
Graduale chant: Signifies our struggle to please God.
St. Ambrose of Milan composed the first Graduales.
"Alleluya" (Revelation 19:6) communicates the
joy of heaven. St. Gregory the Great gave his blessing to
the Alleluya melodies. The Sequence is a chant that
continues the joy of the Alleluya and contains useful
instruction. Pope Nicholas (9th century) blessed Sequences
to be sung at Mass. St. Notker (+912) of St. Gall
Monastery in Switzerland composed many Sequences. The
Tract, sung during Lent, is a song of repentance for sins.
13
The Gospel is the living voice of Jesus Christ
speaking to the people. The candles which the servers hold
are a way of saying that Jesus is the Light of the world.
14
The Symbol of Faith is the Creed formulated and
blessed by the First and Second Oecumenical Councils,
which met at Nicæa and Constantinople in A.D. 325 and
381.
15
"Let us pray": In parishes, the Bidding
Prayers may be done at this point, though they usually are
done in the procession before Liturgy.
16
Offerenda: St. Augustine already writes of this chant
in the 4th century as being sung in Africa. St. Gregory
the Great blessed the texts which are still chanted today
in their order on the various Sundays and feasts.
17
"Forgive me, O
Lord": This is St. Ambroses prayer for veiling the
Gifts.
18
Oblations: This is the time
when money offerings are made, butin spiritthe
people now lay their sufferings, trials, temptations,
sins, cares, and their thanks, at the foot of the Throne
of God.
19
"Brothers and
sisters, pray for me": Pope St. Leo I, the Great, had
the "Pray for me" said at Mass. The response of
the people, "May the grace of the Holy Spirit
illuminate thy heart," was also used in the ancient
abbey of Fleury in France. This part of the Mass reminds
us of Christs appeal to the apostles Peter, James, and
John to pray with Him in the garden of Gethsemane the eve
of His Passion.
20
Preface: By
tradition, it was St. Dionysius the Areopagite who wrote
the first prefaces, but Popes Sts. Leo and Gelasius
ensured they would be sung in the Holy Mass at Rome.
21
Sanctus: Pope St.
Sixtus blessed the current wording of the Sanctus to be
sung at Mass. It comes straight from Isaias 6:3, Daniel
7:10, and Matthew 21:9. "Sábaoth" is Hebrew for
(Angel) "hosts." "Osánna" is Hebrew
for "Save us!"
22
Canon Missæ:
Basing his prayers upon those of the Apostles, Pope St.
Gelasius (5th century) composed this Canon and had it
sung. Sts. Leo and Gregory added slightly to it. It has
been called the "Canon" or "Rule"
since the 5th century.
23
Communicantes: This
prayer, which sometimes varies, reminds us that the
Orthodox Church is in communion with St. Mary and all the
apostles and martyrs.
24
Hanc Igitur: This
prayer varies at certain seasons and at Baptisms.
25
Words of Christ: The wording
is slightly different in the Gospel. This may well be
because these Mass prayer
26
"Lamb,"
often rendered "Host," is from Latin
"hostia." "Hostia" means any
sacrificial animal, but clearly, in this context, that
animal is the Lamb of God.
27
"We most
humbly beseech": This prayer, "Supplices
Te," was considered by St. Nicholas Cabasilas (14th
c.) to be the Western epiclesis. The Priest crosses his
hands on his chest here to show that the sacred Mystery is
not his doing, that Gods grace is accomplishing
everything on the altar and among the people.
28
The elevation
signifies Christs crucifixion. The veiling here
signifies His enshrouding and burial, the mingling at Agnus
Dei, His Resurrection.
29
"Instructed by
saving precepts": This preamble to the Our Father was
composed by St. Gregory the Great, who also placed the Our
Father in its current position in the service.
Historically in the Gregorian rite, only the Priest sang
the Our Father. However, our common usage is that all the
people sing it with him, along Gallican lines. The Lords
Prayer is from Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4.
30
Bishops
blessing: The Apostles delivered the custom of this
blessing to St. Martial of Limoges, apostle of Celtic
Gaul, who in turn delivered it to us.
31
"The peace of
the Lord": St. Ambrose of Milan began to say this;
Pope St. Innocent I (4th century) ruled it should always
be said at this point in the service.
32
Agnus Dei: It was
Pope St. Sergius I, a Syrian, who composed this song
(actually a reprise of part of the Angelic Hymn) and had
it sung at the Mass. Later books give, for the last
repeat, "O Lamb of God... grant us Thy peace."
33
In 681 Pope St. Leo
II had the kiss always exchanged at this point by clergy.
34
Communion Song:
These antiphons were arranged by St. Gregory I. The
antiphon for the peoples communion, "Come, ye
people," is not done in Lent.
35
The 2nd and 3rd
prayers before Communion date back to at least the 9th
century, and have been a regular part of the Mass since
the 10th century.
36
Confession of the
people: "Confess, therefore, your sins one to
another, and pray for one another" (James 5:16). The
prayer, called the Confíteor, dates back to the 8th
century.
37
Communion: St.
Augustine of Africa mentions the bow before receiving:
"No one ought to eat of that Body unless he hath
bowed down before It first."
38
Prayer of Bowed
Heads ("Super Populum"): This prayer stands for
the last blessing Christ gave over His disciples, just
before He ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives.
39
"Let the
performance": Called "Placeat Tibi," this
is a 9th century or older Gallican prayer which has been a
regular part of the Mass since the 10th century.
40
Bishops
blessing: The first versicle and response are from Psalm
120:3, the second versicle and response from Ps. 112:3.
41
Blessing of bread:
This blessing may be a vestige of the ancient Christian
agapes (love-feasts). It is a good custom for the people
to take some of the blessed bread home with them to
consume each day before taking any other food.
Back
to LITURGICAL TEXTS PROJECT
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For
Further Information
All-Merciful Savior Orthodox Church
4315 S. 1st St., Suite F, Austin, Texas 78745-1119
Austin, Texas 78704-4122 USA
Tel: 512-731-5920
FAX:
E-mail: hieromonachusaidanus@yahoo.com
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