It does mean what you suggest. The term refers to the principal Mass of the day. In monasteries or collegiate churches this would be of course the Conventual Mass. I saw your question early this morning and so to confirm my memory - which isn't what it used to be - I spoke with one of the specialists here at the CESR at the University of Tours, where I happen to be this week.
Stan Metheny____________________________________
Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 21:16:48 -0400
From:
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Subject: [M-R] meaning of magna missa?
To:
[log in to unmask]medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Learned Listmembers,
I was going through an early 12th
century monastic missal from the Loire area. On a page with the proper
texts for a feast of the BVM , there was a marginal rubric that stated
“ad magnam missam” followed by abbreviated texts for all the proper
chants of a mass (officium, alleluia, offertorium and post communio).
I have never seen this term magna missa before;
does it mean something like the main community mass (as opposed to the
lesser masses?) I would appreciate knowing its precise significance if
anyone has this info.
many thanks,
John W.
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