Silent Canon in Tridentine Mass?

[Brooklyn]

I am taking a Latin Class so I can more familiar with what I am saying and hearing every week at our TLM. Like everywhere else, the Canon is always said silently at our Church. However, my Latin teacher insists that before Vatican II the Canon was said out loud, and that it was someone who wanted to silence the Latin who somehow made it universal that the Canon in the Tridentine Mass was to be silent. I’ve asked our priest, and he said my teacher is wrong, and everywhere I’ve looked on the internet, it is stated that the TLM Canon is said in silence.

Does anyone have anything that I can give this teacher to show her that she is wrong, or is she right? Thanks for your help.

Mary

 

[AJV]

I am taking a Latin Class so I can more familiar with what I am saying and hearing every week at our TLM. Like everywhere else, the Canon is always said silently at our Church. However, my Latin teacher insists that before Vatican II the Canon was said out loud, and that it was someone who wanted to silence the Latin who somehow made it universal that the Canon in the Tridentine Mass was to be silent. I’ve asked our priest, and he said my teacher is wrong, and everywhere I’ve looked on the internet, it is stated that the TLM Canon is said in silence.

Does anyone have anything that I can give this teacher to show her that she is wrong, or is she right? Thanks for your help.

Mary

There is only one occasion, according to the older rubrics, when the Canon may be said aloud and that is for an ordination. Otherwise saying the Canon aloud fell into disuse many centuries ago

However, you can show your teacher a copy of the rubrics which said:

(Pre-1961/2) (This rubric was essentially the same for 4 centuries)

XVI - De his quae clara voce, aut secreto dicenda sunt in Missa

In Missa privata, clara voce dicuntur Antiphona et Psalmus ad Introitum, Confessio et quae sequuntur, excepta Oratione Aufer a nobis, et Orámus te, Dómine, per mérita Sanctórum tuórum, etc. Item Introitus, Kýrie, eléison, Glória in excélsis, Dóminus vobíscum, Orémus, Flectámus génua, Leváte, Orationes, Prophetiae, Epistola, Graduale, Versus, Tractus, Sequentia, Evangelium, Credo, Offertorium, Oráte, fratres, solum haec duo verba, Praefatio, Nobis quoque peccatóribus, solum haec tria verba. Item, Per ómnia saécula saeculórum, etc. cum Pater noster, Per ómnia saécula saeculórum, cum Pax Dómini, Agnus Dei, Dómine, non sum dignus, haec quatuor verba tantum, Communio, Oratio vel Orationes post Communionem, Humiliáte cápita vestra Deo, Ite, Missa est, vel Benedicámus Dómino, vel Requiéscant in pace, Benedictio et Evangelium In princípio, vel aliud Evangelium. Alia omnia dicuntur secreto.

clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/DE/lr.htm

And post 1961/2

1. In Missa lecta, dicuntur clara voce:
   a) verba In nómine Patris, etc.; psalmus Iúdica me, Deus, cum sua antiphona; confessio et ea quæ sequuntur usque ad Orémus inclusive; orationes vero Aufer a nobis et Orámus te, Dómine dicuntur secreto;
   b) antiphona ad Introitum cum suo versu et Glória Patri necnon Kýrie, eléison;
   c) hymnus Glória in excélsis;
   d) Dóminus vobíscum, Orémus, Flectámus génua - Leváte, orationes;
   e) lectiones, Epistola, graduale, tractus, Allelúia cum suo versu, sequentia et Evangelium;
   f) symbolum;
   g) Dóminus vobíscum, Orémus et antiphona ad Offertorium, necnon verba Oráte, fratres;
   h) præfatio et Sanctus - Benedíctus;
   i) verba Nobis quoque peccatóribus; oratio dominica cum sua præfatione; Per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum et Pax Dómini sit semper vobíscum; Agnus Dei, etc.; verba Dómine, non sum dignus ante Communionem sacerdotis celebrantis; formulæ ad Communionem fidelium; antiphona ad Communionem; Dóminus vobíscum et postcommuniones; necnon verba Humiliáte cápita vestra Deo et oratio super populum;
   l) Ite, missa est vel Benedicámus Dómino aut Requiéscant in pace; benedictio et ultimum Evangelium.
   Cetera dicuntur secreto.

209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:me7FMjr81-sJ:www.ecclesiacatholica.com/missale%2520romanum/rubricae%2520generales%2520missalis%2520romani.htm+rubricae+generales+missalis+romani&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&client=firefox-a

Then also the Ritus Servandus (pre-1961/2) for e.g.

VIII— De Canone Missae usque ad Consecrationem

Finita Praefatione, ut supra, Sacerdos stans ante medium Altaris versus ad illud, extendit et aliquantulum elevat manus, oculisque elevatis ad Deum, et sine mora devote demissis, ac manibus junctis et super Altare positis, profunde inclinatus incipit Canonem, secreto dicens: Te igitur etc. ut in Ordine Missae.

(See also the other parts at the link e.g. the Words of Consecration, the Unde et memores, etc.

 

[Brooklyn]

Thank you very much for this reply. My Latin is nowhere near good enough to translate this, but I will show it to my teacher and see what she says. This seems to be pretty straight forward.

I think also something that really bothers me about what she says is that, if she is correct, then men were able to change the Mass without the approval of Jesus Christ. If we don’t believe in the infallibility of the Church when it comes to belief and practices, then we don’t have anything. Jesus Christ said he would never leave us, and I hang on to that for dear life!

Mary

 

[AJV]

My apologies… …here is the translation:

XVI – On the things which are to be said in a clear voice or secretly in Mass
In private Masses, in a clear voice are said the Antiphon and Psalm at the Introit, the Confession and that which follows, except the Prayer Aufer a nobis, and Oramus te, Domine, per merita Sanctorum tuorum, etc. Likewise the Introit, Kyrie, eleison, Gloria in excelsis, Dominus vobiscum, Oremus, Flectamus genua, Levate, the Collect or Collects, Prophecies, Epistle, Gradual, Verses, Tract, Sequence, Gospel, Credo, Offertory, Orate, fratres, only these two words, the Preface, Nobis quoque peccatoribus, only these three words. Likewise, Per omnia saecula saeculorum, etc. with the Pater noster, Per omnia saecula saeculorum, etc. with the Pax Domini, the Agnus Dei, Domine, non sum dignus, these four words only, the Communion, the Prayer or Prayers after Communion, Humiliate capita vestra Deo, Ite, Missa est, or Benedicamus Domino, or Requiescant in pace, the Blessing and Gospel In principio, or another Gospel. All else is said secretly.

Ritus Servandus:

The Preface having been finished, as above, the Priest standing before the middle of the Altar towards it, extends and slightly elevates his hands, and with his eyes having been lifted to God, and without delay devoutly lowered, profoundly bowed begins the Canon, secretly saying: Te igitur, etc., as in the Ordinary of the Mass

 

[jj2011]

Where is the mass, Brooklyn?

 

[Brooklyn]

I go to our Lady of Peace on 4th and Carroll in Brooklyn. It is usually at 10:30, but this week (12/9) it’s at 12:30. Please do come if you’re in the area!!