Pre-Tridentine Mass

The term "Pre-Tridentine Mass" here refers to the variants of the liturgical rite of Mass in Rome before 1570, when, with his bull Quo primum, Pope Pius V made the Roman Missal, as revised ["We decided to entrust this work to learned men of our selection. They very carefully collated all their work with the ancient codices in Our Vatican Library and with reliable, preserved or emended codices from elsewhere. Besides this, these men consulted the works of ancient and approved authors concerning the same sacred rites; and thus "they have restored the Missal" itself to the original form and rite of the holy Fathers. When this work has been gone over numerous times and "further emended", after serious study and reflection, We commanded that the finished product be printed and published" (Pope Pius V, Bull "Quo primum"). [http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius05/p5quopri.htm] ] by him, obligatory throughout the Latin-Rite or Western Church, except for those places and congregations whose distinct rites could demonstrate a pedigree of 200 years or more.

The Pope made this revision of the Roman Missal at the request of the Council of Trent (1545-1563) at its [http://www.americancatholictruthsociety.com/docs/TRENT/trent25.htm#8 final session.] The changes he made, such as introducing the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, and adding all that in his Missal follows the "Ite missa est", were, as this article will show, decidedly minor in comparison to those made in earlier centuries since the earliest accounts of the liturgy of the Mass as celebrated in Rome.

Outside of Rome in the period before 1570, many other liturgical rites were in use, not only in Eastern Christianity, but also in the West. Some of the Western rites, such as the Mozarabic Rite, were unrelated to the Roman Rite that Pope Pius V revised and ordered to be adopted generally. But even the areas that at one time or another had accepted the Roman rite (see, below, "Middle Ages") had soon introduced changes and additions. As a result, every ecclesiastical province and almost every diocese had its local use, such as the Use of Sarum, the Use of York and the Use of Hereford in England. In France there were strong traces of the Gallican Rite. With the exception of the relatively few places where no form of the Roman Rite had ever been adopted, the Canon of the Mass remained generally uniform, but the prayers in the "Ordo Missae", and still more the "Proprium Sanctorum" and the "Proprium de Tempore", varied widely. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10354c.htm "1913 Catholic Encyclopedia Missal"] ] For that reason, this article considers only the liturgy of the Mass as celebrated in Rome.

Earliest accounts

The earliest surviving account of the celebration of the Eucharist or the Mass in Rome is that of Saint Justin Martyr (died c. 165), in chapter 67 of his "First Apology" [http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0126.htm] ::On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.

In chapter 65, Justin Martyr says that the kiss of peace was given before the bread and the wine mixed with water were brought to "the president of the brethren." The language used was doubtless Greek, except in particular for the Hebrew word "Amen", whose meaning Justin explains in Greek (γένοιτο), saying that by it "all the people present express their assent" when the president of the brethren "has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings."

Also, in Chapter 66 of Justin Martyr's First Apology, he describes the transubstantiation which occurs on the altar: "For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Saviour was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nurtured, is both the flesh and the blood of that incarnated Jesus" (First Apology 66:1-20 [A.D. 148] ).

The descriptions of the Mass liturgy in Rome by Hippolytus (died c. 235) and Novatian (died c. 250) are similar to Justin's.

Early changes

It is unclear when the language of the celebration changed from Greek to Latin. Pope Victor I (190–202), an African, may have been the first to use Latin in the liturgy in Rome. Others think Latin was finally adopted nearly a century later. ["The complete and definitive Latinization of the Roman liturgy seems to have happened toward the middle of the fourth century" (Christine Mohrmann, "Études sur le latin des chrétiens" (Rome: Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura, 4 volumes1961-77), vol. I, p. 54).] The change was probably gradual, with both languages being used for a while. ["The first Christians in Rome were chiefly people who came from the East and spoke Greek. The founding of Constantinople naturally drew such people thither rather than to Rome, and then Christianity at Rome began to spread among the Roman population, so that at last the bulk of the Christian population in Rome spoke Latin. Hence the change in the language of the liturgy. ... The liturgy was said (in Latin) first in one church and then in more, until the Greek liturgy was driven out, and the clergy ceased to know Greek. About 415 or 420 we find a Pope saying that he is unable to answer a letter from some Eastern bishops, because he has no one who could write Greek" (Alfred Plummer, Conversations with Dr. Döllinger 1870-1890, ed. Robrecht Boudens (Leuven University Press, 1985), p. 13).]

Before the pontificate of Pope Gregory I (590–604), the Roman Mass rite underwent many changes, including a "complete recasting of the Canon" (a term that in this context means the Anaphora or Eucharistic Prayer), "... the Eucharistic prayer was fundamentally changed and recast" ("Catholic Encyclopedia", "Liturgy of the Mass"), [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09790b.htm] the number of Scripture readings was reduced, the prayers of the faithful were omitted (leaving, however, the "Oremus" that once introduced them), the kiss of peace was moved to after the Consecration, and there was a growing tendency to vary, in reference to the feast or season, the prayers, the Preface, and even the Canon.

With regard to the Roman Canon of the Mass, the prayers beginning "Te igitur, Memento Domine" and "Quam oblationem" were already in use, even if not with quite the same wording as now, by the year 400; the "Communicantes", the "Hanc igitur", and the post-consecration "Memento etiam" and "Nobis quoque" were added in the fifth century. [Josef Andreas Jungmann, S.J., "Missarum Sollemnia - Eine genetische Erklärung der römischen Messe" (Herder, Vienna 1949), volume I, pages 70-71; cf. Hermannus A. P. Schmidt, "Introductio in Liturgiam Occidentalem" (Herder, Rome-Freiburg-Barcelona 1960), page 352]

Pope Gregory I made a general revision of the liturgy of the Mass, "removing many things, changing a few, adding some," as his biographer, John the Deacon, writes. He is credited with adding a phrase to the Eucharistic Prayer, and he placed the Lord's Prayer immediately after the Canon, as he himself wrote.

Middle Ages

Towards the end of the eighth century Charlemagne ordered the Roman rite of Mass to be used throughout his domains. However, some elements of the preceding Gallican rites were fused with it north of the Alps, and the resulting mixed rite was introduced into Rome under the influence of the emperors who succeeded Charlemagne. Gallican influence is responsible for the introduction into the Roman rite of dramatic and symbolic ceremonies such as the blessing of candles, ashes, palms, and much of the Holy Week ritual.

The recitation of the Credo (Nicene Creed) after the Gospel is attributed to the influence of Emperor Henry II (1002–1024). Gallican influence explains the practice of incensing persons, introduced in the eleventh or twelfth century; "before that time incense was burned only during processions (the entrance and Gospel procession)." [http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0126.htm] Private prayers for the priest to say before Communion were another novelty. About the thirteenth century, an elaborate ritual and additional prayers of French origin were added to the Offertory, at which the only prayer that the priest in earlier times said was the Secret; these prayers varied considerably until fixed by Pope Pius V in 1570. Pope Pius V also introduced the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, previously said mostly in the sacristy or during the procession to the altar as part of the priest's preparation, and also for the first time formally admitted into the Mass all that follows the "Ite missa est" in his edition of the Roman Missal. Later editions of the Roman Missal abbreviated this part by omitting the Canticle of the Three Young Men and Psalm 150, followed by other prayers, that in Pius V's edition the priest was to say while leaving the altar. ["Missale Romanum. Editio Princeps" (ISBN 88-209-2547-8), pages 291-292]

From 1474 until Pope Pius V's 1570 text, there were at least 14 different printings that purported to present the text of the Mass as celebrated in Rome, rather than elsewhere, and which therefore were published under the title of "Roman Missal". These were produced in Milan, Venice, Paris and Lyon. Even these show variations. Local Missals, such as the Parisian Missal, of which at least 16 printed editions appeared between 1481 and 1738, showed more important differences. ["Missale Romanum. Editio Princeps" (ISBN 88-209-2547-8), Introduction, pages XV-XVI]

The Roman Missal that Pope Pius V issued at the request of the Council of Trent, gradually established uniformity within the Latin Rite after a period that had witnessed regional variations in the choice of Epistles, Gospels, and prayers at the Offertory, the Communion, and the beginning and end of Mass. With the exception of a few dioceses and religious orders, the use of this Missal was made obligatory, giving rise to the 400-year period when the Roman-Rite Mass took the form now known as the Tridentine Mass.

Comparison of the Mass, c. 400 and 1000 AD

Source: Hoppin, Richard. "Medieval Music". New York: Norton, 1977. Page 119 and 122.

References

ee also

*Roman Catholic Church
*Eucharist
*The Mass
*Tridentine Mass
*Mass of Paul VI
*Roman Missal
*Sarum rite
*Missale Aboense
*Use of York
*Stowe Missal
*Durham Rite
*Lyons Rite

External links

cholarly works

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09790b.htm "Catholic Encyclopedia", "Liturgy of the Mass"] , study by the renowned liturgist, Father Adrian Fortescue
* [http://www.latin-mass-society.org/msshst.htm A Short History of the Roman Mass. By Michael Davies] , said to be based on Adrian Fortescue's "The Mass: A Study of the Roman Liturgy"
* [http://www.liturgica.com/html/litWLEarly.jsp?hostname=null Early Western Liturgics]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/ordoromanusprimu00atchuoft Ordo Romanus Primus] , by E.G. Atchley
* [http://www.liturgica.com/html/litWLReform.jsp?hostname=null Gregorian Reforms] (the liturgical reforms of Pope Gregory I in about 600)
* [http://www.liturgica.com/html/litWLCarol.jsp?hostname=null Carolingian Reforms] (the liturgical reforms promoted by Charlemagne in about 800)
* [http://www.saintkatherineorthodoxchurch.org/articles/1570missaleromanum.htm Origins of the 1570 "Missale Romanum"] , by Archbishop Anthony Bondi
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC03393150&id=7rkMAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA10-PA197&lpg=RA10-PA197&dq=lincoln+missal&as_brr=1#PRA1-PA36,M1 Notes on Mediæval Services in England: With an Index of Lincoln Ceremonies] (A discussion of the ceremonies of the medieval Church of Lincoln)
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC00683292&id=gw4NAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA4-PA249&lpg=RA4-PA249&dq=1570+Missal&as_brr=1#PRA4-PA171,M1 Tracts on the Mass] (Includes two variants of the Ordinary of the Sarum Mass and a Pre-Tridentine variant of the Curial Use of the Roman Mass)
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC02489766&id=_7k9mmXXaHgC&pg=RA3-PA66&lpg=RA3-PA66&dq=Patriarch+of+Antioch&as_brr=1#PPP10,M1 Christian Worship: Its Origin and Evolution; a Study of the Latin Liturgy Up to the Time of Charlemagne]

Roman Missal before 1570 and precedents

* [http://ffyl.uncu.edu.ar/departamentos/filosofia/centros/cefim/Ordinarium%201474.pdf"The Ordo Missae of the 1474 Missale Romanum"]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC24822186&id=LwcNAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA495&lpg=RA1-PA495&dq=missale+usum#PRA1-PR25,M1 Missale romanum Mediolani, 1474 (Henry Bradshaw Society)]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC24822186&id=XAMNAAAAIAAJ&printsec=titlepage&dq=missale+usum#PPP15,M1 Missale romanum Mediolani, 1474 (Vol. 2)]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/ordoromanusprimu00atchuoft Ordo Romanus Primus]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC00816044&id=S-20jhQQZBMC&pg=RA3-PA1&lpg=RA3-PA1&dq=sacramentary&as_brr=1 The Gelasian Sacramentary]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC01465520&id=qVGESPGL0L8C&pg=RA1-PR8&lpg=RA1-PR8&dq=missae&as_brr=1#PRA1-PR10,M1 Sacramentarium Leonianum]

Pre-1570 Missals used outside of Rome by local variants of Roman Rite

* [http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/Liturgy/SynopsisRituum2004.pdf "Eight pre-Tridentine variants of the Roman Mass side by side with the Tridentine Mass for comparison"]
* [http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:vA9dx6Q-7bEJ:anglicanhistory.org/liturgy/yorkmissal.pdf+eboracensis&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=9 "Ordinary of the York Missal in English"]
* [http://ffyl.uncu.edu.ar/departamentos/filosofia/centros/cefim/Missale%20Bracarense.pdf Missale Bracarense (Braga Missal)] Ordo Missae and Canon in Latin
* [http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/Liturgy/Ordo%20Missae%20Coloniensis.pdf Missale Coloniense (Cologne Missal)] [http://ffyl.uncu.edu.ar/departamentos/filosofia/centros/cefim/MissaleColoniense.pdf (alternate link)] Ordo Missae and Canon in Latin.
* [http://ffyl.uncu.edu.ar/departamentos/filosofia/centros/cefim/Missale%20Ord%20Praedicatorum.pdf Missale Ordinis Praedictorium (The Dominican Missal)] [http://members.aol.com/liturgialatina/dominican/mass_ordinary.htm (an alternate link)] Ordo Missae and Canon in Latin
* [http://ffyl.uncu.edu.ar/departamentos/filosofia/centros/cefim/Missale%20Carthussiense.pdf Ordo Missae Carthusiensis (The Carthusian Missal)] Ordo Missae and Canon in Latin
* [http://www.archive.org/details/theleofricmissal00unknuoft The Leofric missal as used in the Cathedral of Exeter during the episcopate of its first bishop, A.D. 1050-1072. Together with some account of the Red book of Derby, the Missal of Robert of Jumièges, and a few other early manuscript service books of the English church. Edited, with introd. and notes (1883)] [http://books.google.com/books?id=XRYuAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA208&dq=stowe+missal#PRA1-PA94,M1 another link]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC01688980&id=y32_7OHqprcC&pg=RA2-PR9&lpg=RA2-PR9&dq=missale#PRA2-PA45,M1 Missale ad usum percelebris ecclesiae Herfordensis (The Hereford Missal)]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC30880168&id=YsHHR8UzGKkC&pg=RA1-PR13&lpg=RA1-PR13&dq=%22use+of+york%22&as_brr=1#PRA1-PR14,M1 Missale ad usum insignis Ecclesiæ Eboracensis, Vol. 1 (The York Missal in Latin)] [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC30880168&id=_lAJAAAAIAAJ&printsec=titlepage&dq=missale+usum (Vol. 2)]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC00680396&id=MQQNAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA8-PA1&lpg=RA8-PA1&dq=missale+usum Missale Ad Usum Ecclesie Westmonasteriensis (The Westminster Missal vol. 1)]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC04345975&id=jAMNAAAAIAAJ&printsec=titlepage&dq=missale+usum#PPP14,M1 Missale Ad Usum Ecclesie Westmonasteriensis (The Westminster Missal vol. 2)]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC05128421&id=wSQBAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA7-PA70&lpg=RA7-PA70&dq=sarum+missal&as_brr=1#PRA4-PA20,M1 Missale Drummondiense] (An Irish Missal, which differs slightly from other uses of the Roman rite because St. Patrick and St. Gregory the Great are commemorated in the Canon of the Mass)
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=08I4RhaJDeU0z2Dt&id=cyUBAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PR7&lpg=RA1-PR7&dq=%22Sarum+Missal#PRA15-PA170,M1 The Sarum Missal in English]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC06195006&id=WgsNAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PR38&lpg=RA1-PR38&dq=Jumi%C3%A8ges+gertrude#PRA1-PR41,M1 The Missal of Robert of Jumièges]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC25161732&id=-wcNAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA1&lpg=RA1-PA1&dq=Rosslyn+Missal&as_brr=1#PRA2-PR30,M1 The Rosslyn Missal] [http://books.google.com/books?vid=0vS5wlD4QDIHncL7&id=AOYCAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA3-PA1&lpg=RA3-PA1&dq=Rosslyn+Missal&as_brr=1#PRA6-PA207,M1 (Alternate edition}]
* [http://books.google.com/books?vid=0vS5wlD4QDIHncL7&id=AOYCAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA3-PA1&lpg=RA3-PA1&dq=stowe+missal&as_brr=1#PPA1,M1 The Irish Stowe Missal in comparison with later Medieval English Usages of the Roman Mass]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=T09CAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA71&dq=Swedish+Mass&lr=#PPA2,M1 The Mass in Sweden:It's Development (Contains the ordinary of the medieval Use of Uppsala, Sweden)]

Media on variants of Roman Rite outside of Rome

* [http://www.liturgy.dk/default.asp?Action=Menu&Item=285 Video of a Mass according to the Pre-Tridentine Use of Slesvig, Denmark (now Germany)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21pnAoiGnjs Video of a Sarum-rite Mass celebrated by a Roman Catholic priest at Oxford in 1997]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8680531421342899324&q=sarum&total=128&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=6 Video of a Sarum-rite Mass for the Feast of Candlemas]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFS2xppUDPI Video of a celebration of Mass according to the Medieval Use of York]