Sanctus
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The Sanctus (Latin: Holy) is a hymn from Christian liturgy, forming part of the Order of Mass. In Western Christianity, the Sanctus is sung (or said) as the final words of the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer, the prayer of consecration of the bread and wine. The preface, which alters according to the season, usually concludes with words describing the praise of the worshippers joining with the angels, who are pictured as praising God with the words of the Sanctus:
- Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
- Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
- Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua.
- Hosanna in excelsis.
- Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
- Hosanna in excelsis.[1]
It is loosely related to the Trisagion, another invocation sometimes referred to in the West as the Tersanctus (Latin: Thrice Holy).
In the Roman Catholic Church, a partial indulgence was once specifically granted for recitation of the Sanctus prayed once a day together with the Trisagion, with a contrite heart to adore the Holy Trinity.[2] The present Enchiridion Indulgentiarum grants a partial indulgence to Christians who, in carrying out their tasks and undergoing the difficulties of life, raise their minds to God in humble trust, adding, even if only mentally, some pious invocation.[3]
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Sources [edit]
The first part of the Sanctus is adapted from Isaiah 6:3, which describes the prophet Isaiah's vision of the throne of God surrounded by six-winged, ministering seraphim. A similar representation found in Revelation 4:8 appears to be the basis of the Trisagion, with which the Sanctus should not be confused. In Jewish liturgy, the verse from Isaiah is uttered by the congregation during Kedusha, a prayer said during the cantor's repetition of the Amidah (18 Benedictions) before the opening of the ark:
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- Kadosh Kadosh Kadosh Adonai Tz'vaot
- Melo Kol Haaretz Kevodo.
The text of the second part, beginning with the word Benedictus (Latin for "Blessed"), is taken from Matthew 21:9, describing Jesus' Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem.
The Sanctus appears in the Sacramentary of Serapion of Thmuis (the saint died in 360), but may go as far back to Christian liturgy in North Africa in the year 200.[4]
Musical settings [edit]
The Sanctus has been set to numerous plainchant melodies, many of which are given in the Roman Missal, and many more composers have set it to polyphonic music, both in single settings and as part of cyclic mass settings.
Accompanying ceremony [edit]
In the Tridentine Mass the priest joins his hands while saying the word "Sanctus" and then, bowing, continues to recite the whole of the Sanctus in a lower voice, while a small bell is rung; then, on reaching the words "Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini", he stands erect again and makes the Sign of the Cross.[5] He then continues immediately with the Canon of the Mass, while the choir, if there is one, sings the Sanctus, pausing for the Consecration and continuing with the Benedictus part afterwards. As a result of this division, the Sanctus is sometimes called[who?] the Sanctus-Benedictus.
In the Mass as revised after the Second Vatican Council, the only ceremony prescribed for the priest is to join his hands. He and the people sing or recite together the whole of the Sanctus, before the priest continues the Eucharistic Prayer.
In English [edit]
The Sanctus appears thus in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer (and as set to music by John Merbecke in 1550[6]):
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- Holy, holy, holy, Lorde God of Hostes:
- heaven (& earth) are full of thy glory:
- Hosanna, in the highest.
- Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lorde:
- Glory to thee, O lorde in the highest.
In the 1559 BCP it appears without the Benedictus:
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- Holy, holy, holy, lord god of hostes,
- Heaven and earth are full of thy glory,
- Glory be to the, O Lord most hyghe.
- Amen (most hyghe in some versions).
English version of some Lutherans:
In 1973 the International Consultation on English Texts (ICET) produced an ecumenical version that at that time was adopted by Catholics, Anglicans and others:
Since 2011 the Roman Missal in English has:
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- Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
- Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
- Hosanna in the highest.
- Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
- Hosanna in the highest.[10]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Missale Romanum 2002, p. 517 (electronic text)
- ^ Joseph P. Christopher et al., 2003 The Raccolta St Athanasius Press ISBN 978-0-9706526-6-9 page 1
- ^ General Grant I in Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, fourth edition (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 1999 ISBN 88-209-2785-3), p. 33
- ^ Perspectives on Christian Worship by J. Matthew Pinson, Timothy Quill, Ligon Duncan and Dan Wilt (Mar 1, 2009) ISBN 0805440992 pages 64-65
- ^ Ritus servandus in celebratione Missae, VII, 8
- ^ [1]
- ^ Lutheran Service Book, Divine Service III
- ^ Liturgy of the Eucharist
- ^ Book of Common Prayer
- ^ THE ORDER OF MASS Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Committee on English in the Liturgy
External links [edit]
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