The Mass as it was in the City of Rome

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(Cf. post number 8)

THE EPISTLE

(1 Cor. 5: 7-8)

Subdeacon: A reading from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corithians.

Beloved brethren: purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new paste, as you are unleavened: for Christ our Pasch is sacrificed. Therefore let us feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

THE GRADUAL (Responsum)

(Psalm 118 [117]: 24; 1, 2, 3, 4, 16, 22, 26)

Cantor: This is the day which the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Choir: This is the day which the Lord has made…

Cantor: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His love endures forever.
Choir: This is the day which the Lord has made…

Cantor: Let the house of Israel say that He is good, that His mercy endures forever.
Choir: This is the day which the Lord has made…

Cantor: Let the house of Aaron now say: His mercy endures forever.
Choir: This is the day which the Lord has made…

Cantor: Let those who fear the Lord now say: His mercy endures forever.
Choir: This is the day which the Lord has made…

Cantor: The right hand of the Lord had wrought strength: the right hand of the Lord hath exulted me: the right hand of the Lord had wrought strength.
Choir: This is the day which the Lord has made…

Cantor: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
Choir: This is the day which the Lord has made…

Cantor: Blessed be he that comes in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
Choir: This is the day which the Lord has made…

THE ALLELUIA or TRACT

(1 Cor. 5: 7-8)

Cantor: Alleluia, Alleluia. Christ our Pasch is sacrificed.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia. Christ our Pasch…
Cantor: Therefore let us feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia. Christ our Pasch…

 

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(Cf. post number 9)

THE BLESSING

At the end of the Alleluia, the Deacon who will read the Gospel will kiss the Pope’s feet while the Pope says to him:

Pope: May the Lord be in your heart and in your lips.

THE GOSPEL

(Mark 16: 1-8)

Deacon: The Lord be with you.
R: And with your spirit.
Deacon: A continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Mark.
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet spices, that coming, they might anoint Jesus. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they come to the sepulchre, the sun being now risen. And they said one to another: “Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” And looking, they saw the stone rolled back (for it was very great). And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed with a white robe: and they were astonished.

Who saith to them: “Be not affrighted; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he is risen, he is not here, behold the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee; there you shall see him, as he told you.” But they going out, fled from the sepulchre, for a trembling and fear had seized them: and they said nothing to any man; for they were afraid.

 

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(Cf. post 13 and 19)

THE DISMISSAL OF THE CATECHUMENS

The Dismissal was once done at this point. During the days of St. Gregory, the Deacon called out: “If any one does not
communicate, let him go away!” This had disappeared by the time of Ordo I, but at Scrutiny Masses the deacon still called out here: “If any one be a catechumen, let him depart ! Let all catechumens go out of the doors!”

The Pope then says: “Peace to you.” Then:

P: The Lord be with you.
R: And with your spirit.
P: Let us pray.

THE OFFERTORY VERSE

(Ps. 75 [76]: 9-10, 2-5)

Choir: The earth trembled and was still when God arose in judgment, Alleluia.

Cantor: Known in Judah is God; His name is great in Israel.
Choir: The earth trembled…

Cantor: And His place is in peace, and His abode on Zion.
Choir: The earth trembled…

Cantor: There He broke the powers of arrows, the shield, the sword, and weapons of war; You enlighten wonderfully from the everlasting hills.
Choir: The earth trembled…

THE SECRET

Pope: We beseech You, O Lord, to accept the prayers of Your people together with the Sacrifice they offer, that what has been begun by the Paschal Mysteries, by Your working may profit us unto eternal healing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit; God, (aloud) forever and ever.
R: Amen.

 

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(Cf. post number 20)

THE PREFACE

Pope: The Lord be with you.
R: And with your spirit.
P: Lift up your hearts.
R: We lift them up unto the Lord
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R: It is fitting and right.

Pope: It is truly fitting and right, our duty and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto You, O Holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God.

Glorious in truth is it to praise You at all times, but especially on this day, when Christ our Passover Lamb was sacrificed for us, by whom the sons of light arise to eternal life, the courts of the Heavenly Kingdom are opened to the faithful, and by the law of blessed fellowship human things are changed to divine: for the death of us all is destroyed by the Cross of Christ, and in His Resurrection the life of every man has risen again; whom we own in his putting on of our mortality to be the God of Majesty, and acknowledge to be God and Man in the Hlory of His Godhead; who by His death had destroyed our death, and by His Resurrection had restored to us life. And therefore, with Angels and Archangels, Thrones and Dominations, and with the whole company of the Heavenly Army, we sing the hymn of Your Glory, evermore saying:

Choir: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and Earth are full of Your Glory; Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

THE CANON (part 1)

Pope: Therefore, most gracious Father, we humbly beg of You and entreat You through Jesus Christ Your Son, Our Lord: Hold acceptable and bless + these gifts, these + offerings, these + holy and unspotted oblations which, in the first place, we offer You for your Holy Catholic Church. Grant her peace and protection, unity and guidance throughout the worlds, together with Your servant N., our Pope, and N., our Bishop.

Remember, O Lord, Your servants and handmaids and all here present, whose faith and devotion are known to You. On whose behalf we offer to You, or who themselves offer to You this sacrifice of praise for themselves, families and friends, for the good of their souls, for their hope of salvation and deliverance from all harm, and who offer their homage to You, eternal, living and true God.

 

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(Cf. post 22)

THE CANON (continued)

Pope: Communicating with, and keeping this most holy day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh; and also reverencing the memory, first, of the glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of the same our God and Lord Jesus Christ; and also of Your blessed Apostles and Martyrs: Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus; of Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and all Your Saints. By their merits and prayers grant that we may be always fortified by the help of Your protection. Through Christ our Lord.

Graciously accept, then, we beseech You, O Lord, this service of our worship and that of all Your household. Provide that our days be spent in Your peace, save us from everlasting damnation, and cause us to be numbered in the flock you have chosen. Through Christ our Lord.

Humbly we beseech You, O God, be pleased to make this same offering wholly blessed, to consecrate it and approve it, making it reasonable and acceptable, so that it may become for us the Body and Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ;

Who, the day before He suffered, took bread into His Holy and venerable hands, and having lifted up His eyes to heaven, to You, God, His Almighty Father, giving thanks to Thee, blessed, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: “Take and eat this, all of you, FOR THIS IS MY BODY”.

In the same manner after supper, taking also into His holy and venerable hands this goodly chalice, again giving thanks to You, He blessed and gave it to His disciples, saying: “Take and drink this, all of you, FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL TESTAMENT, THE MYSTERY OF FAITH, WHICH WILL BE SHED FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. As often as you do these things, do them in remembrance of me.”

(Note that there is no Elevation of the Host and Chalice here; the Elevation having only been introduced in the Middle Ages)

Mindful, therefore, Lord, we, Your serva ts, as also Your holy people, of the same Christ, Your Son, our Lord, remember His blessed passion, and also of His Resurrection from hell, and finally of His glorious Ascension into heaven, offer to Your supreme Majesty, of the gifts bestowed upon us, the pure Victim, the holy Victim, the immaculate Victim: the holy Bread of life eternal and the Chalice of perpetual salvation.

Deign to regard with gracious and kindly attention and hold acceptable, as You deigned to accept the offerings of Abel, Your just servant, and the sacrifice of Abraham our Patriarch, and that which Your chief priest Melchizedek offered to You, a holy Sacrifice and a spotless victim.

 

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(Cf. post 24)

THE CANON (continued)

Pope: Most humbly we implore You, Almighty God, bid these offerings to be brought by the hands of Your Holy Angel to Your altar above, before the face of Your Divine Majesty. And may those of us who by sharing in the Sacrifice of this altar shall receive the Most Sacred Body and Blood of Your Son, be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing, Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Recited on weekdays: Remember also, Lord, Your servants and handmaids N. and N. who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace. To these, Lord, and to all who rest in Christ, we beg You to grant of Your goodness a place of comfort, light, and peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

To us sinners also (Here the Subdeacons rise up), Your servants, trusting in the greatness of Your mercy, deign to grant some part and fellowship with Your Holy Apostles and Martyrs with John Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, and all Your Saints. Into their company we implore You to admit us, not weighing our merits, but freely granting us pardon. Through Christ our Lord;

Through whom, O Lord, (The Archdeacon rises up) You always create, sanctify, fill with life, bless and bestow upon us all good things.

Through Him, and with Him, (Here the Archdeacon lifts up the Chalice again with the offertory-veil passed through its handles, and holds and raises it towards the Pope. The latter, meanwhile touches the side of the Chalice with loaves that he carries in his hands) and in Him, is to You, God the Father Almighty,in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory; forever and ever.
R: Amen.

THE PATER

Pope: Let us pray:
Taught by our Savior’s command and formed by the word of God, we dare to say: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation.
R: But deliver us from evil.
Pope: Amen.

Deliver us, we beg You, Lord, from every evil, past, present, and to come; and by the intercession of the blessed and glorious ever-Virgin, Mother of God, Mary, and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, of Andrew, and all Saints. Grant of Your goodness, peace in our days, that aided by the riches of Your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all disturbance. (Here the Archdeacon turns around, and after kissing the Paten, takes it and gives it to the second Deacon to hold). Through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
R: Amen.

Pope: (Here he makes the Sign of the Cross over the Chalice thrice) *May the peace + of the Lord be + always with + you (The Pope then drops a fragment of the bread consecrated on the previous Mass, called the Sancta. This was seen as a symbol of unity, linking the Communicants with that of the previous Mass, where the fragment used was consecrated and on through the ages as long as the ceremony had existed.).

R: And with your spirit.
(The Archdeacon gives the kiss of peace to the Chief hebdomadary Bishop, then to the rest of the Clergy in order, and then to the people.)

THE FRACTION and THE AGNUS DEI

(As the Fraction is done, the Choir sings)

Choir: Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Acolytes: Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

The Pope breaks one of the Loaves on the right side and leaves the fragment upon the Altar while he puts the loaves on the Paten the Deacon is holding. He then returns to his throne.*