Category Archives: post-conciliar liturgy documents

The English translation of the Roman Missal Second Edition labeled seven prefaces “for General Use.” One more than in the Missal currently in use. ICEL included what appears to be an original composition. What do you make of this text? … Continue reading →

As we get to the last of the six prefaces which are labelled “Common” in the Roman Missal, Third Edition, a reminder that each of these is accompanied by a rubric which states: The following Preface is said in Masses … Continue reading →

The fifth of six prefaces which are labelled “Common” is labelled “The proclamation of the Mystery of Christ.” Faith, hope, and love, and what is essentially the Paschal Mystery cited in twenty-one words. The English translation of the Roman Missal … Continue reading →

Let’s discuss “Praise, the gift of God.” This is another preface that can be dropped on any Ordinary weekday when a saint isn’t a required feature for the choice of liturgy. The English MR2: … and the current Missal text: … Continue reading →

Shall we give “Praise to God for the creation and restoration of the human race”? I remember the mandatum in Mark 16:15, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Perhaps we think of a weirdness … Continue reading →

One of the shortest texts among the prefaces, but a divine phenomenon that is beyond words, beyond gratitude: salvation through Christ. This is one text clearly superior in the translation of the Roman Missal Second Edition: And the third edition: … Continue reading →

In the Roman Missal Order of Mass, number 72 marks the first of six texts labelled “Common Preface.” Let’s remember that simple rubric which instructs: The following Preface is said in Masses that have no proper Preface, and for which … Continue reading →

Buried toward the back of the Preface section of the Roman Missal, numbers 72 through 77 of the Order of Mass, are six prefaces which are labelled “Common.” Each of the six is accompanied by a rubric which states: The … Continue reading →

Let’s discuss the second preface for the Eucharist. The reference in the Roman Missal is number 61 in the Order of Mass, about a third of the way through the US edition. This is one of the longer texts of … Continue reading →

Let’s discuss the first of two prefaces for the Eucharist. The reference in the Roman Missal is number 60 in the Order of Mass, about a third of the way through the US edition. The rubric instructs that this preface … Continue reading →

The the second of two prefaces for solemnities, feasts, and other observances of the Blessed Virgin is based on Scripture. Note that it cites Psalm 98, a lyric (the “ends of the earth”) used on Christmas Day, as a common … Continue reading →

The Roman Church offers two prefaces for solemnities, feasts, and other observances of the Blessed Virgin. The first is credal, citing the Immaculate Conception and the ancient belief that Mary’s virginity was perpetual. Without lingering on that topic, lines four … Continue reading →

Before we move on to more Roman Rite prefaces in current use, I thought I’d share this bonbon from MR2. Now, conservatives complained about the new compositions often enough. I found them singularly unconvincing. Make what you will of this … Continue reading →

A bit of a run-on title, “The Church united by the unity of the Trinity.” This last of the MR3 Ordinary Sunday prefaces looks to all Three Persons rather that focusing on Christ. Is that a significant deviation from a … Continue reading →