medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Preface (5)
The Preface for Epiphany ends in exactly the same way as that for
Christmas, but the one for Lent invokes many more of the heavenly
beings:
Per quem majestatem tuam laudant Angeli,
adorant Dominationes,
tremunt Potestates,
Cæli, cælorumque Virtutes,
ac beata Seraphim,
socia exsultatione concelebrant.
Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti jubeas, deprecamur,
supplici confessione dicentes: [Sancts, sanctus, sanctus ... ]
"Through whom (i.e. through Christ) the Angels praise your majesty,
the Dominations adore,
the Powers tremble,
the heavens, and the Virtues of the heavens,
and the blessed Seraphim,
joyfully celebrate together.
With whom, we pray you to admit our voices,
saying in humble confession: Holy, holy, holy ..."
The prefaces for Masses of the Passion and of the Holy Cross end in the
same way. The Masses for Eastertide, and that for the Ascension, end
like those of Christmas. But that for Pentecost is rather different:
Quapropter profusis gaudiis,
totus in orbe terrarum mundus exsultat.
Sed et supernæ Virtutes, atque angelicæ Potestates,
hymnum gloriæ tuæ concinunt,
sine fine dicentes:
"Wherfore with joys outpouring,
the whole world of the earthly globe exults.
But also the heavenly Virtues, and the angelic Powers,
sing together the hymn of your glory,
saying without end:"
The preface for the feast of the Holy Trinity ends as follows:
Quam laudant Angeli atque Archangeli,
Cherubim quoque ac Seraphim:
qui non cessant clamare quotidie,
una voce dicentes: [Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus ...]
"Which the Angels and Archangels praise,
the Cherubim also and the Seraphim;
who do not cease to cry out every day,
saying with one voice: Holy, holy, holy.
The Preface for Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary end like those of
Lent, as do those of St Joseph. Those for Apostles and Evangelists end
like those of Christmas, that for weekdays through the year end like
those of Lent, and that for the dead is like that for Christmas. So
that there are only four closing formulæ available for the Preface:
I. Christmas, Epiphany, Eastertide, Ascension, Apostles and
Evangelists, the Dead.
II. Lent, Passiontide, Holy Cross, B.V.M., St Joseph, Weekdays.
III. Pentecost.
IV. Holy Trinity.
We should also mention the ending of the excellent Preface of the
venerable Liturgy of St John Chrysostom. The whole prayer, of course,
exhibits many interesting and instructive features, but for now we
might observe the note of thanksgiving that runs through the preface,
something that tends to get minimised in the western prayers. After
several expressions of thanks, the Preface ends:
"We render thanks to Thee also for this Service which Thou dost deign
to receive at our hands, though thou art surrounded by thousands of
Archangels and tens of thousands of Angels, by the Cherubim and
Seraphim that are six-winged, full of eyes and soar aloft on their
wings, singing, crying, shouting and saying the triumphal hymn: Holy,
holy, holy ..."
Bill.
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