From the rising of the sun to its setting

[CyrilSebastian]

Eucharistic Prayer III states:
“so that from the rising of the sun to its setting,
a pure sacrifice may be offered in your name.”

Is this to be understood that a Mass can be celebrated at any time during the day or night (evening)?

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

I always took this to mean that the Mass was eternal and universal. The old text was “from east to west”, which was thought to mean worldwide.

 

[InThePew]

I always took this to mean that the Mass was eternal and universal. The old text was “from east to west”, which was thought to mean worldwide.

Without checking I’d say this is the most likely interpretation since, strictly speaking, the sun never actually rises or sets!

 

[GEddie]

If you think about it, since there are churches in every time zone, then every hour, except on Good Friday, the Mass is being celebrated somewhere.

ICXC NIKA

 

[mdgspencer]

These words actually quote the Old Testament prophet Malachi (line 1:11). I agree with what preceding posters say, but perhaps too this can be said to add further dimension to these words, which prophecy long beforehand about the universal Church, giving the sacrifice of the mass from one end of the world to another (a prophecy some of the Fathers of the Church found in these words in Malachi).

 

[Vico]

Eucharistic Prayer III states:
“so that from the rising of the sun to its setting,
a pure sacrifice may be offered in your name.”

Is this to be understood that a Mass can be celebrated at any time during the day or night (evening)?

From sunrise up to sunset. The ancient norm was daytime sacrifice.

Exodus 2938* Now, this is what you shall regularly offer on the altar: two yearling lambsj as the sacrifice established for each day; 39 one lamb in the morning and the other lamb at the evening twilight. 40 With the first lamb there shall be a tenth of an ephah of bran flour mixed with a fourth of a hin* of oil of crushed olives and, as its libation, a fourth of a hin of wine. 41 The other lamb you shall offer at the evening twilight, with the same grain offering and libation as in the morning. You shall offer this as a sweet-smelling oblation to the LORD. 42 Throughout your generations this regular burnt offering shall be made before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting, where I will meet you and speak to you.

Numbers 283a You will tell them therefore: This is the oblation which you will offer to the LORD: two unblemished yearling lambs each day as the regular burnt offering,* 4 offering one lamb in the morning and the other during the evening twilight, 5 each with a grain offering of one tenth of an ephah of bran flour mixed with a fourth of a hin of oil of crushed olives.* 6 This is the regular burnt offering that was made at Mount Sinai for a pleasing aroma, an oblation to the LORD. 7 And as the libation for the first lamb, you will make a libation to the LORD in the sanctuary* of a fourth of a hin of strong drink. 8 The other lamb you will offer during the evening twilight, making the same grain offering and the same libation as in the morning, as an oblation of pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Latin Mass Vere sanctus es, Domine, et merito te laudat omnis a te condita creatura,
quia per Filium tuum, Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum,
Spiritus Sancti operante virtute
vivificas et sanctificas universa,
et populum tibi congregare non desinis,
ut a solis ortu usque ad occasum
oblatio munda offeratur nomini tuo.
Malachi 111 For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts.