Ite, missa est

[threej_lc]

Actually, we just covered this in Latin class this week at seminary. It means “Go, the Church is sent.” Where “the Church”, ecclesia, is an implied subject.

Josh

 

[AJV]

Then it would seem he is addressing the people and not the “Angel of the Mass.” So, it would mean, “Go, you (implied by the priests position) are sent forth.”

It is addressed to the people: this was answered by the Congregation of Rites in 1816.

There are 3 ways the Mass can end:
Ite Missa Est
Benedicamus Domino (Let us bless the Lord-before 1960, used for various Masses particularly those of the Lenten feriae)
Requiescant in pace (May they rest in peace- for Masses of the Dead)

Prior to 1960, the priest would recite things said/sung by the other ministers, hence a question was posed to the Congregation:

An sacerdos dicere debeat in missa solemni, Ite Missa Est, Benedicamus Domino, et Requiescant in pace, vel dicantur tantum a diacono?

i.e. should the priest also say the words or should they only be sung by the deacon. To which was replied (September 7, 1816)
*
Quoad Ite Missa Est, negative, quoad Benedicamus Domino et Requiescant in pace, affirmative*

the interpretation given being that the latter two “had the character of a prayer” while the former did not.

 

[Ham1]

It is addressed to the people: this was answered by the Congregation of Rites in 1816.

There are 3 ways the Mass can end:
Ite Missa Est
Benedicamus Domino (Let us bless the Lord-before 1960, used for various Masses particularly those of the Lenten feriae)
Requiescant in pace (May they rest in peace- for Masses of the Dead)

Prior to 1960, the priest would recite things said/sung by the other ministers, hence a question was posed to the Congregation:

An sacerdos dicere debeat in missa solemni, Ite Missa Est, Benedicamus Domino, et Requiescant in pace, vel dicantur tantum a diacono?

i.e. should the priest also say the words or should they only be sung by the deacon. To which was replied (September 7, 1816)
*
Quoad Ite Missa Est, negative, quoad Benedicamus Domino et Requiescant in pace, affirmative*

the interpretation given being that the latter two “had the character of a prayer” while the former did not.

Great reference…thanks!