Extraordinary Community News (February 16, 2014 – Septuagésima Sunday)

"I will go in unto the Altar of God
To God, Who giveth joy to my youth"
Tridentine Community News (February 16, 2014):

The Pre-Lenten Season

While the Ordinary Form of Holy Mass continues to be in Ordinary Time, the Extraordinary Form is now in the pre-Lenten season of Septuagésima, a name derived from the Latin term signifying 70 days before Easter. Subsequent Sundays are Sexagésima (approximately 60 days) and Quinquagésima (approximately 50 days), then both calendars unify on the First Sunday of Lent. Some signs of Lenten restraint in the Sacred Liturgy are evident: The Gloria is suppressed, and the celebrant wears violet vestments. However, organ music is still permitted unaccompanied by singing; during Lent the organ may only be used to accompany singing. The idea is to phase our thinking into the penitential mode of Lent.

Conclusions to the Orations of the Mass

The following is an updated version of a topic previously run in 2006 and 2009. Because many of our readers have started attending the Extraordinary Form Mass since that date, we thought it beneficial to readdress this subject.

The Orations are the prayers which the priest recites or sings alone: the Collect (Opening Prayer), the Secret (Prayer Over the Gifts), and the Postcommunion (Prayer After Communion). The Orations are not to be confused with the Antiphons, which the choir sings while the priest recites them (the Introit, Offertory, and Communion). Only the Orations have concluding phrases.

Both in hand missals and in our weekly Latin/English Propers Handouts, one sees abbreviations for the conclusions to the Orations. Only a few identifying words are printed, for example: “Per Dóminum.” The full text is not provided each week because it is always the same. In addition, there is only so much space on the page; on days with lengthy readings, we struggle to fit everything on the handout as it is. Therefore, it behooves all of us to know what those abbreviations signify.

Abbreviations Not Allowed

In the Ordinary Form of Holy Mass, one often hears short conclusions to the Orations (e.g.: “…Who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.” or “…through Christ our Lord. [Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.] Amen.”) In the Tridentine, abbreviated conclusions are not permitted in the Orations. They are, however, used at other points within the Mass, for example at the end of paragraphs within the Canon.

The Texts of the Conclusions

A particular conclusion is used based on the context of the Oration.

For prayers addressed to God the Father: Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus: per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen. [Abbreviation: “Per Dóminum.”]

(Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.)

For prayers addressed to God the Father in which the Holy Ghost is mentioned: Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte ejusdem Spíritus Sancti, Deus: per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen. [Abbreviation: “Per Dóminum… in unitáte ejusdem.”]

(Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.)

For prayers making mention of God the Son: Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus: per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen. [Abbreviation: “Per eúmdem Dóminum.” N.B.: In some Missals, the word is spelled eúndem with an “n”.]

(Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.)

For prayers making mention of the Holy Ghost: Per Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte ejusdem Spíritus Sancti, Deus: per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen. [Abbreviation: “Per Jesum Christum.”]

(Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.)

For prayers in which the final clause refers to God the Son: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus: per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen. [Abbreviation: “Qui tecum.”]

(Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.)

For prayers addressed directly to God the Son: Qui vivis et regnas, cum Deo Patre in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen. [Abbreviation: “Qui vívis.”]

(Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.)

Tridentine Masses This Coming Week

• Mon. 02/17 7:00 PM: Low Mass at St. Josaphat (Feria) – Celebrant may choose a Votive Mass
• Tue. 02/18 7:00 PM: Low Requiem Mass at St. Benedict/Assumption-Windsor (Daily Mass for the Dead)

[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@detroitlatinmass.org. Previous columns are available at http://www.detroitlatinmass.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Albertus (Detroit) and Assumption (Windsor) bulletin inserts for February 16, 2014. Hat tip to A.B., author of the column.]