Text and rubrics of the Roman Canon

Before the 1970 revision of the Roman Missal, the Mass had, in the Roman Rite, only one Anaphora or Eucharistic Prayer, which was referred to as the Canon of the Mass. Since the 1970 revision, which made only minimal changes in the text, but somewhat more important changes in the rubrics, it is called Eucharistic Prayer I or the Roman Canon. In the Anglican Missal, it is called, "The Canon of the Roman Mass".

This article does not deal with the significance and history of this Eucharistic Prayer (for which see Canon of the Mass and History of the Roman Canon), but only with the text and rubrics of the Canon from the "Te Igitur" to the final doxology, omitting consideration of the introductory dialogue, the preface and the "Sanctus". These parts were not altered in 1970, except for the addition of further prefaces, generally taken from ancient sources.

ilent speaking of the Canon

Before the changes that followed the Second Vatican Council, the priest said all this part of the Canon silently, with only two exceptions: the phrase "Nobis quoque peccatoribus" was said in a slightly audible voice, and the final phrase of the doxology, "per omnia saecula saeculorum", was said or sung aloud. This peculiarity of the Roman Canon is associated with the fact that, in the Tridentine period, the priest said all parts of the Mass (except such responses as "Et cum spiritu tuo" and "Amen") himself, even if the choir sang them also. It became customary for the priest, having himself quickly said the "Sanctus", not to wait for the choir to finish singing, but to continue immediately, necessarily not aloud, the rest of the Canon.

This was not always so. The older Roman ordines state that originally "the priest did not begin the Canon until the singing of the Sanctus was over" (Mabillon: In ord. Rom. comm., XXI). And, even in the Tridentine period, when an ordination Mass was almost the only case of concelebration left in the West, all the concelebrants said the Canon together aloud. However, mystic reasons were attributed to the silent prayers of the Canon, as purely sacerdotal, belonging only to the priest, with the silence increasing reverence at the most sacred moment of the Mass and removing the Consecration from ordinary vulgar use.

Since the 1970 revision of the Roman Missal, the Canon is no longer said silently. On the contrary, the "General Instruction of the Roman Missal", 147 states: "It is very appropriate that the priest sing those parts of the Eucharistic Prayer for which musicalnotation is provided." This brings the practice of the Roman Rite back into harmony with the rites of all the other ancient Christian Churches and with the practice of the Roman Rite itself before medieval times.

Te igitur

In the Tridentine period, the priest began this prayer by raising his hands a little, joining them, looking briefly up to heaven, and then bowing deeply before the altar and resting his hands on it. He then said: "Te igitur, clementissime Pater, per Iesum Christum Filium tuum Dominum nostrum, supplices rogamus, ac petimus" (We therefore, most merciful Father, suppliantly request and beg you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord). Then he kissed the altar, joined his hands before his breast and continued: "uti accepta habeas, et benedicas" (to consider accepted and to bless). Next he made the sign of the cross three times over the host and the chalice, while saying: "haec dona, haec munera, haec sancta sacrificia illibata" (these gifts, these offerings, these holy unimpaired sacrifices). He then opened his arms into the position of prayer represented in paintings in the Catacombs (the "Orantes" posture) and continued: "in primis, quae tibi offerimus pro Ecclesia tua sancta catholica: quam pacificare, custodire, adunare, et regere digneris toto orbe terrarum: una cum famulo tuo Papa nostro N. et Antistite nostro N. et omnibus orthodoxis atque catholicae et apostolicae fidei cultoribus" (which, in the first place, we offer you for your holy catholic Church. Graciously give her peace, protect her, unite her and shepherd her in the whole circuit of the lands, together with your servant, our Pope (Name) and our Bishop (Name) and all the orthodox and the keepers of the catholic apostolic faith).

In the present Roman Missal the text remains exactly as before, but the rubrics have been simplified: the priest adopts the "Orantes" posture immediately, joins his hands at the same point as before but makes only one sign of the cross (the only one in the whole course of the Canon) over host and chalice, and then resumes the "Orantes" posture.

This prayer is not, strictly speaking, a prayer "for" the Pope and the Bishop. It uses the expression "together with" (una cum) not "for". This "together with" may be linked either with the verbs "pacificare" etc. begging God's favour for the Church as a whole, or with the verb "offerimus", indicating that the priest is offering Mass in union with the Pope and the Bishop.

Past variations of this prayer included the once universal mention of the civil ruler (emperor or king), which Pope Pius V removed in his 1570 revision of the Missal, but which continued in use in the Austro-Hungarian Empire until its dissolution. The prayer also included, at one time, a special mention of the priest himself, though not by name.

A Tridentine rubric, not given in the Ordinary of the Mass (in Latin, Ordo Missae), but elsewhere in the Missal, directed the priest to bow his head at the name of the Pope. The present Missal requires such a bow only "when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honour Mass is being celebrated" ("General Instruction", 275).

Note also that, even in the Tridentine period, the plural form of verbs such as "offerimus" ("we" offer) was used. Some interpret this as a relic of the time before concelebration ceased to be used in the West.

Commemoration for the living

The priest next prays, now as before 1970: "Memento, Domine, famulorum, famularumque tuarum N. et N. et omnium circumstantium, quorum tibi fides cognita est, et nota devotio, pro quibus tibi offerimus: vel qui tibi offerunt hoc sacrificium laudis, pro se, suisque omnibus: pro redemptione animarum suarum, pro spe salutis et incolumitatis suae: tibique reddunt vota sua aeterno Deo, vivo et vero" (Remember, Lord, your servant men and women (Names) and all here present. You are aware of their faith and know their devotedness. We offer for them, or they offer, this sacrifice of praise for themselves and all who are theirs, for the redemption of their souls, for the hope of their health/salvation and safety; and they present their prayers to you, the eternal, living, and true God).

"Sacrifice of praise" is a phrase taken from Book of Psalms 49/50:23. The word "salus" can refer either to bodily health or to spiritual salvation.

At the point where the names of those being prayed for may be mentioned, the priest joins his hands and prays briefly for them.

Parts of this prayer were added at a relatively late date and are not found in early sacramentaries.

In a concelebrated Mass, this prayer and the following one are spoken by individual concelebrants.

First Intercession

In the Missal, the next prayer is preceded by the rubric "Infra Actionem" (within the Canon), which was originally a heading over variations of this prayer, placed among other prayers for certain feast, to indicate that they were to be inserted in the Canon. The feasts at which these variations are still used are Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost, and throughout their octaves. Since 1970, only Christmas and Easter have octaves.

The prayer is as follows: "Communicantes, et memoriam venerantes, in primis gloriosae semper Virginis Mariae, Genetricis Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi: sed et beati Ioseph, eiusdem Virginis Sponsi, et beatorum Apostolorum ac Martyrum tuorum, Petri et Pauli, Andreae, (Iacobi, Ioannis, Thomae, Iacobi, Philippi, Bartholomaei, Matthaei, Simonis et Thaddaei: Lini, Cleti, Clementis, Xysti, Cornelii, Cypriani, Laurentii, Chrysogoni, Ioannis et Pauli, Cosmae et Damiani) et omnium Sanctorum tuorum; quorum meritis precibusque concedas, ut in omnibus protectionis tuae muniamur auxilio. (Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.)" (In union with and venerating the memory of, in the first place, the glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, but also blessed Joseph, spouse of the same Virgin, and your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James and John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude: Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and all your Saints, by whose merits and prayers grant that we may in all things be fortified by the aid of your protection. [Through Christ our Lord. Amen.] )

Since 1970, the parts in brackets may be omitted. Before then, when saying the then obligatory conclusion, "Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen", the priest joined his hands, and opened them again at the start of the following prayer. The present Missal omits this rubric but only at this point. At other uses of "Per Christum Dominum nostrum", optional or obligatory, in the Canon, it directs that the priest should join his hands.

In his revision of the Missal, Pope Pius V removed some saints' names and other clauses that were then included, though some survived locally. The words "beati Joseph, eiusdem Virginis Sponsi" were added by Pope John XXIII.

Hanc Igitur

This prayer, like the preceding, has variations at a very few celebrations. Such occasions were once much more numerous: the Gelasian Sacramentary has as many as 38 special forms to be intercalated for all kinds of special intentions, including requiem and wedding Masses.

The normal text is: "Hanc igitur oblationem servitutis nostrae, sed et cunctae familiae tuae, quaesumus, Domine, ut placatus accipias: diesque nostros in tua pace disponas, atque ab aeterna damnatione nos eripi, et in electorum tuorum iubeas grege numerari. (Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.)" (Lord, we beg you to accept forgivingly this offering of us your servants and all your household, to arrange our days in your peace, and to bid us be removed from eternal damnation and numbered among the flock of your chosen ones. [Through Christ our Lord. Amen.] )

In a concelebrated Mass, the prayer is said by the principal celebrant.

In the Tridentine Missal, the priest spread his hands over the offerings during this prayer. This gesture was a late ceremony, occurring first in the fifteenth century, and was not adopted by the Dominicans and Carmelites. It has been removed in the present Missal.

Pre-consecration epiclesis

There follows the prayer: "Quam oblationem tu, Deus, in omnibus, quaesumus, benedictam, adscriptam, ratam, rationabilem, acceptabilemque facere digneris: ut nobis Corpus et Sanguis fiat dilectissimi Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi" (We beg you, God, to deign to make this offering in every way blessed, approved, ratified, right and acceptable, so that it may become for our benefit the Body and Blood of your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.)

Although this prayer does not mention the Holy Spirit, it is otherwise similar to an epiclesis, in which, usually, the Holy Spirit is invoked to effect the change of the bread and the wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. Accordingly, the present Missal directs the priest to extend his hands over the offerings while reciting it. Previously, the priest said the prayer with hands joined, except while making the five signs of the cross that were then prescribed and that are now omitted.

From this pre-consecration epiclesis to the post-consecration epiclesis, inclusive, the words are spoken or sung by all the concelebrants together.

Consecration of the bread

Next comes the first part of the account of the Last Supper: "Qui, pridie quam pateretur, accepit panem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas, et elevatis oculis in caelum ad te Deum Patrem suum omnipotentem, tibi gratias agens benedixit, fregit, deditque discipulis suis, dicens: Accipite et manducate ex hoc omnes: hoc est enim Corpus meum, quod pro vobis tradetur" (Who, on the day before his Passion, took bread in his holy venerable hands, and looking up to heaven to you, God, his almighty Father, giving you thanks, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, all of you, and eat of it: for this is my Body, which will be given up for you).

The actions and words attributed to Jesus in this account are not exactly the same as in the account of the Last Supper in any one of the Gospels. The raising of Jesus' eyes to heaven is not mentioned in the account of the Last Supper in any of the Gospels, though this action (of course, without "to you, God, his almighty Father") is mentioned in the accounts of the first of the two multiplications of the loaves. The word "enim" has also been added to the words of consecration, apparently through analogy with the consecration of the chalice.

This prayer admits of one addition in the year: on Holy Thursday the prayer begins: "Who the day before he suffered for the salvation of us and of all, that is today ...", etc.

The rubrics direct the priest to accompany the words about taking and looking up with similar actions, but the bread is not broken or distributed at this point. The priest also bows slightly while speaking the words of Jesus. Then, immediately after those words, he shows the consecrated host to the people, replaces it on the paten and genuflects in adoration.

The Tridentine Missal required the priest also to bow his head at the words "giving you thanks" and to make the sign of the cross at the words "he blessed it". It directed him to genuflect before as well as after showing the host to the people. It had the phrase "shows it to the people" (in Latin, "ostendit populo") not, as some imagine, "elevates it"; but, of course, then as now, if the people were behind the priest, it was shown by raising it above the level of the priest's head. This showing of the host was introduced in France in the twelfth century and became general in the Roman Rite in the thirteenth. However, earlier texts speak of a gesture of adoration ("the bishops, deacons, subdeacons, and priests stay in the presbytery bowing down") at the consecration itself. The genuflection, in place of the previous bow of the head, was introduced only in the fourteenth century.

The "General Instruction", 150 directs: "A little before the consecration, when appropriate, a server rings a bell as a signal to the faithful. According to local custom, the server also rings the bell as the priest shows the host and then the chalice." The Tridentine Missal did not mention the first ringing, but stated that the bell should be rung either three times or continuously while the host and the chalice were being shown ("Ritus servandus in celebratione Missae", VIII, 6).

Consecration of the wine

"Simili modo, postquam cenatum est, accipiens et hunc praeclarum calicem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas, item tibi gratias agens benedixit, deditque discipulis suis, dicens: Accipite et bibite ex eo omnes: hic est enim calix Sanguinis mei novi et aeterni testamenti, qui pro vobis et pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum. Hoc facite in meam commemorationem" (Similarly, when supper was ended, taking also this magnificent chalice in his holy venerable hands, giving you thanks in like manner, he blessed it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: for this is the cup of my Blood of the new and eternal testament, which will be shed for you and for the many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.)

The Tridentine text varied from this in two points. One was the insertion of the words "mysterium fidei" (mystery of faith) immediately after the word "testamenti". The other was that, in place of the final words, "Hoc facite in meam commemorationem", which Jesus used at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25), it had the words "Haec quotiescumque feceritis, in mei memoriam facietis" (As often as you do this, you will do it in my memory), a conflation of Jesus' words with a comment by Saint Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:26.

The words of the consecration of the wine come mainly from bibleref|Matthew|26:16; "calix Sanguinis mei" is adapted from Luke and 1 Corinthians; "pro vobis" come from Luke, and "pro multis" from Matthew. The phrase "et æterni" comes from no New Testament passage.

It has been suggested that the phrase "mysterium fidei" was originally a warning by the deacon to the people, but no evidence has been found to support this supposition. The priest now speaks the phrase after showing the chalice to the people and genuflecting. It serves as an introduction to a Memorial Acclamation by the people, absent in the Tridentine Missal.

The Missal gives three forms of this acclamation, the first two of which are closely based on 1 Corinthians 11:26, while making explicit the reference to the resurrection of Christ, which is only implicit in that text:

:"Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine, et tuam resurrectionem confitemur, donec venias" (We proclaim your death, Lord, and confess your resurrection, until you come).

:"Quotiescumque manducamus panem hunc et calicem bibimus, mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine, donec venias" (As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord, until you come).

:"Salvator mundi, salva nos, qui per crucem et resurrectionem tuam liberasti nos" (Saviour of the world, save us, who through your cross and resurrection have freed us).

Anamnesis

In the Eucharistic Prayers of all liturgies, the Words of Institution of the sacrament, concluding with "Do this in memory of me", are, quite naturally, followed by a solemn recalling of Christ's death and resurrection. The term used to refer to this explicit recalling is Anamnesis. The anamnesis then turns seamlessly into a prayer of offering. The text in the Canon is: "Unde et memores, Domine, nos servi tui, sed et plebs tua sancta, eiusdem Christi, Filii tui, Domini nostri, tam beatae passionis, necnon et ab inferis resurrectionis, sed et in caelos gloriosae ascensionis: offerimus praeclarae maiestati tuae de tuis donis ac datis hostiam puram, hostiam sanctam, hostiam immaculatam, Panem sanctum vitae aeternae et Calicem salutis perpetuae" (Therefore, Lord, we your servants, and also your holy people, mindful of the so blessed passion of the same Christ, your Son, our Lord, and of his resurrection from the world beneath and his glorious ascension to heaven, offer to your exalted majesty, from what you have bestowed and given, a pure victim, a holy victim, a stainless victim, the holy Bread of eternal life and the Chalice of perpetual salvation).

The first five of the fifteen signs of the cross that, in accordance with the Tridentine Missal, the priest made during the Canon over the already consecrated bread and wine were made during this prayer. All fifteen have now been omitted.

upra quae

The Canon continues with a prayer that God may accept the sacrifice the Church now offers as he accepted the sacrifices of three outstanding Old Testament figures. In other words, it asks that the devotion of the Church may be like theirs.

The text is: "Supra quae propitio ac sereno vultu respicere digneris: et accepta habere, sicuti accepta habere dignatus es munera pueri tui iusti Abel, et sacrificium Patriarchae nostri Abrahae, et quod tibi obtulit summus sacerdos tuus Melchisedech, sanctum sacrificium, immaculatam hostiam." (Deign to look with propitious and serene countenance on them, and to accept them, as you deigned to consider acceptable the gifts of your just servant Abel, and the sacrifice of our Patriarch Abraham, and what your high priest Melchizedek offered you, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim).

Post-consecration epiclesis

The following prayer is believed to have once been a regular epiclesis, in which the Holy Spirit is invoked upon those who are to receive the Body and Blood of Christ so as to sanctify them. It still ends with a prayer that all who will receive the sacred Body and Blood of Christ will be filled with every heavenly blessing and grace. A phrase of Pope Gelasius I (492-496) has been interpreted as indicating that in his time the Roman Canon still had an express mention of the Holy Spirit, such as there is in all other ancient liturgies. He wrote: "How shall the Heavenly Spirit," when he is invoked to consecrate the divine mystery", come, if the priest [and he] who prays him to come is guilty of bad actions?" (Ep., vii; Thiel, Ep. Rom. Pont., I, 486) - "and he" corresponds here to the single word "et" in Latin, which may be a scribal error. It has also been suggested that the angel mentioned here is the Holy Ghost - an attempt to bring the prayer more into line with the proper form of an epiclesis, but the evidence rather tells against this interpretation.

The prayer is: "Supplices te rogamus, omnipotens Deus, iube haec perferri per manus sancti Angeli tui in sublime altare tuum, in conspectu divinae maiestatis tuae; ut quotquot ex hac altaris participatione sacrosanctum Filii tui Corpus et Sanguinem sumpserimus, omni benedictione caelesti et gratia repleamur. (Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen)" (We suppliantly beg you, almighty God, bid them to be brought by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high, in the sight of your divine majesty, so that as many of us as will, by this participation of the altar, receive the sacred Body and Blood of your Son may be filled with every heavenly blessing and grace. [Through Christ our Lord. Amen] ).

The present rubrics direct the priest to bow profoundly while saying this prayer and to stand erect and make the sign of the cross on himself when saying the final phrase, "omni … gratia repleamur" (may be filled with every ... grace). The Tridentine Missal also required the priest to keep his joined hands on the altar while making the profound bow, to kiss the altar at the words "hac altaris participatione" (this participation of the altar), and to make a sign of the cross over the consecrated host at the word "Corpus" (Body) and over the chalice with the consecrated wine at the word "Sanguinem" (Blood).

Commemoration for the dead

"Memento etiam, Domine, famulorum famularumque tuarum N. et N., qui nos praecesserunt cum signo fidei et dormiunt in somno pacis. Ipsis, Domine, et omnibus in Christo quiescentibus, locum refrigerii, lucis et pacis, ut indulgeas, deprecamur. (Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen." (Remember also/still, Lord, you servant men and women (Names), who have gone before us with the sign of faith and sleep the sleep of peace. To them, Lord, and to all who rest in Christ, grant, we beg, a place of comfort, light and peace. [Through Christ our Lord. Amen] ).

As at the commemoration for the living, the rubrics direct that, at the point where the names of those being prayed for may be mentioned, the priest joins his hands and prays briefly for them.

The Tridentine Missal had at the end of this prayer a rubric unparalleled in the rest of the book: at the then obligatory final clause, "Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen", the priest was directed to bow his head, although the clause did not contain the name of Jesus. The only explanation offered was a mystic one: after the prayer for the dead the priest bows his head as Christ did when he died.

In a concelebrated Mass, this prayer and the following are said by individual concelebrants.

econd Intercession

"Nobis quoque peccatoribus, famulis tuis, de multitudine miserationum tuarum sperantibus, partem aliquam et societatem donare digneris, cum tuis sanctis Apostolis et Martyribus: cum Ioanne, Stephano, Matthia, Barnaba, (Ignatio, Alexandro, Marcellino, Petro, Felicitate, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucia, Agnete, Caecilia, Anastasia) et omnibus Sanctis tuis: intra quorum nos consortium, non aestimator meriti, sed veniae, quaesumus, largitor admitte. Per Christum Dominum nostrum." (To us sinners, also, your servants, who hope in your many mercies, deign to grant some share and fellowship with your holy Apostles and Martyrs: John, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, and all your Saints. Admit us to their company, we beg you, not as a weigher of merit, but as a bestower of pardon. Through Christ our Lord).

The saints of this Second Intercession are headed by John the Baptist, who is accompanied by seven male and seven female saints, all of them martyrs.

The opening words, "Nobis quoque peccatoribus", were the only ones of the Canon, apart from the "Per omnia saecula saeculorum" that concludes the Canon, that, in the time of the Tridentine form of the Roman Missal, were spoken aloud after the "Sanctus". They were to be said in a rather low voice, since the rubric spoke of the priest "raising his voice "a little"."

At the same words, both before and after 1970, the priest strikes his breast, as do all the priests, in the case of a concelebrated Mass.

Per quem

The "Per Christum Dominum nostrum" at the end of the Second Intercession is not followed by the usual "Amen." What follows instead is the short prayer (reserved to the principal celebrant in a concelebrated Mass): "Per quem haec omnia, Domine, semper bona creas, santificas, vivificas, benedicis, et praestas nobis." (Through whom you, Lord, always create, sanctify, enliven, bless and grant us all these good things.)

It is unclear what is referred to by the phrase "all these good things". One theory is that it refers to fruits of the earth and prepared food brought up to be blessed at this point of the Canon, which is when the bishop blesses the oil of the sick with a special formula at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday.

The Tridentine Missal required the priest to make three signs of the cross over the host and chalice together during this prayer.

Doxology with elevation

The priest ends the Canon with the doxology, "Per ipsum, et cum ipso, et in ipso, est tibi Deo Patri omnipotenti, in unitate Spiritus Sancti, omnis honor et gloria per omnia saecula saeculorum." (Through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory is yours, God the almighty Father, for ever and ever). To this the response is: "Amen."

While pronouncing the doxology, the priest, or the priest and the deacon, if there is one, elevate the paten containing the consecrated host and the chalice containing the consecrated wine. The Tridentine Missal had a more complicated ritual: the priest uncovered the chalice, genuflected, took the host between right thumb and forefinger and, holding the chalice in his left hand, made the sign of the cross three times from lip to lip of the chalice, while saying: "Per ipsum, et cum ipso, et in ipso"; then he made the sign of the cross twice with the host in the space between him and the chalice, saying: "est tibi Deo Patri omnipotenti, in unitate Spiritus Sancti"; next he elevated chalice and host slightly, while saying: "omnis honor et gloria"; and finally replaced the host on the corporal, covered the chalice with the pall, genuflected, stood up, and said or sang aloud: "Per omnia saecula saeculorum."

ee also

*Canon of the Mass
*History of the Roman Canon
*Mass
*Pre-Tridentine Mass
*Tridentine Mass
*Mass of Paul VI
*English Missal

External links

* [http://www.sanctamissa.org/EN/rubrics English translation of the Rubrics of the 1962 Roman Missal]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03255c.htm Adrian Fortescue: "Canon of the Mass"]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09790b.htm Adrian Fortescue: "Liturgy of the Mass"]