Category Archives: Roman Missal

The Roman Missal provides five prefaces for a funeral or memorial Mass. The last of them is subtitled, “Our resurrection through the victory of Christ.” As with the other prefaces listed “For the Dead,” there’s not an obvious Scripture reference … Continue reading →

The fourth Roman Missal preface “for the dead” has a theme, in case a quick glance at the five pages of these texts is all there’s time to do: From earthly life to heavenly glory. Don’t harp on me if … Continue reading →

The third of the Roman Missal’s five prefaces for a funeral or memorial Mass is certainly the shortest. In any translation. We have three succinct statements about Jesus, as we read in both the second edition translation:     And … Continue reading →

The Roman Missal provides five prefaces for a funeral or memorial Mass.  These may also be chosen for the liturgy on November 2nd. For being super-brief, I don’t recall ever hearing it. The MR2 reads:   And the MR3: For … Continue reading →

The Roman Missal provides five prefaces for a funeral or memorial Mass. It’s interesting the second edition mentions their use for All Souls Day, but the new Roman Missal does not. By the way, they can be used on the … Continue reading →

The Roman Missal provides two prefaces for a feast of an apostle. The second has a wider application beyond just Saints Peter and Paul, as the rubric informs: The following preface is said in Masses of the Apostles and Evangelists. … Continue reading →

The Roman Missal provides two prefaces for a feast of an apostle. Here is the rubric that accompanies the first one: The following preface is said in Masses of the Apostles, especially of Saints Peter and Paul. Quick quiz: how … Continue reading →

Buried among the prefaces in the English translation of the Roman Missal Second Edition is what appears to be another independent composition. Before I get to it, I want to reproduce the rubric that accompanied it: This preface is used … Continue reading →

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 →