Understanding the missal

[bridekirk]

Hi. I am in the process of converting from being an Anglican to a Roman Catholic and am attending and hope to be confirmed according to the Traditional Latin Mass.I have bought a 1962 Roman Missal and am trying to work it out. As an Anglican I always used the Lectionary in my Anglican Missal to read the relevant Collects, Epistle and Gospel Readings before attending Communion.

Although it is Latin the Roman Missal does not differ in a huge way from what I am used to but there are a couple of things I need to understand. Firstly, I am right in thinking that there is only a one year cycle for the Latin Mass Readings, and thus the appointed readings will remain the same year in and year out? Secondly there is a phrase I keep coming across that I cant find anything out about… An example is ( when referring to the Introit ) “First Variable Part” or when for example referring to the Gospel " Fifth Variable Part". What on earth does it mean? I have searched the internet and cant get an answer. Any Help out there ? Many Thanks

 

[malphono]

Yes, the readings follow a one year cycle. I’m not familiar with the terminology, but it might depend on just which handmissal you’re using. In any case, I suspect that the term “variable part” refers to the Propers, which are variable. The Introit, for example, is the first of the Proper parts. The Gospel would, I believe, be the fifth (after the Collect, Epistle, and Gradual or Tract).

 

[bridekirk]

Yes, the readings follow a one year cycle. I’m not familiar with the terminology, but it might depend on just which handmissal you’re using. In any case, I suspect that the term “variable part” refers to the Propers, which are variable. The Introit, for example, is the first of the Proper parts. The Gospel would, I believe, be the fifth (after the Collect, Epistle, and Gradual or Tract).

Hello malphono. Thanks for your help Ahh Ok that makes some sense. I thought at first it must heave meant that each section ( i.e. Introit, had a number of “parts” of which only certain parts would be appropriate for any particular day ), but that would not make sense in terms of the Epistle or Gospel which is entire. Many Thanks

 

[corsair]

I agree with Malphono. I think he has nailed it.

 

[bridekirk]

I agree with Malphono. I think he has nailed it.

Hi corsair,

Well my new Missal arrived this morning and I have tested the theory and that is absolutely right. Quite straight forward when you know what it means !!