medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I think two different topics actually require clarification here:
1. The prayers at the foot of the altar and indeed all the prayers
before the Introit/Kyrie were indeed originally said privately while
vesting. It would be good to know when they became incorporated into
the public liturgy (even though spoken inaudibly as far as the
congregation was concerned). Obviously by the time of Pius V's revision
they were incorporated, but how far back into the late Middle Ages does
that go?
2. Beginning with the formula "In nomine patris, et filii, et spiritus
sancti" strikes me as a very different matter. Catholics (and Orthodox,
and Anglo-Catholics) traditionally begin (and end) a wide vareity of
prayers (e.g., table graces) with this formula. How far back this goes,
I do not know but would think it goes back into the patristic era. I
don't have Tertullian in front of me, but it might even be included in
the section in De baptismo where he alludes to a number of traditional
practices (traditional in his day) that are not explicitly found in the
NT. I know he includes making the sign of the Cross under that listing;
whether one can tell from his wording whether making the sign of the
cross included the enumeration of the three Persons or not, I don't
know.
Thus, to begin Mass with this formula would seem to me to be the most
obvious thing imaginable. Surely someone on the list can be more
precise about it, out of direct familiarity with the most ancient
liturgical texts. But given its nature as a standard way to begin (and
end) most prayers, it could have been practiced long before any
precipitate was left behind in the texts?
Dennis Martin
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Briggs
>Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 2:16 PM
>To: John Wickstrom
>Subject: Re: Ordinarium missae
>
>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion
>and culture
>
>John B. Wickstrom wrote:
>>
>> Could anyone tell me whether the Tridentine formula opening the
>> Ordinary of the Mass dates back to medieval times? Perhaps how
early?
>>
>> In nomine patris, et filii, et spiritui sancti. Amen.
>>
>> Introibo ad altare dei ad deum qui laetificat juventutem meam. etc.
>>
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