Walking Through The Mass: The Sanctus and Benedictus

-
Rembrandt: Adoration of the Shepherds

Christmas is the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord. Every Mass announces and "enfleshes" the mystery of the Incarnation, Birth and the manifestation (Epiphany) of the Lord. In the Presence of the Saviour, we become like the shepherds, bowing and kneeling in the presence of the Word-Made-Flesh, the Saviour sent to redeem us.

Because, in every Mass, we enter into eternity with the Lord, we are also present to the entire reality of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
And (Jesus) said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Divine Worship, the Mass, begins with a Bethlehem - the Gloria, the angelic chorus heralding the Nativity of the Lord - and continues along the road to Emmaus, magnificently recapitulating salvation history. The liturgical road leads to the nexus between heaven and earth, to the very intersection of time and eternity.

Now In Flesh Appearing

The road to Emmaus along which the disciples travel with Jesus, the Mass, the breaking of bread in which the disciples awaken to Jesus Present among them, embodies the entire liturgical year.

The Sanctus, the hymn to the thrice holy God, and the Benedictus - echoing the words of our Savior (Matthew 23:39) - herald the advent of the Lord, the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

In Divine Worship, the Mass of the Ordinariate, one hears:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts,
heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord most high.
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Mindful we are in the presence of the Lord and about to enter into the holy of holies, the sung or spoken recitation of the Sanctus/Benedictus is accompanied by an inclination from the beginning of the Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy...) until the start of the Benedictus, at which point the Celebrant stands erect and all with him make the Sign of the Cross. The inclination at the Sanctus is an ancient gesture. The Benedictus is accompanied by the Sign of the Cross, an acknowledgement it is a text from the Holy Gospel. The text of the Sanctus recalls, too, the passage in the Book of Revelation (4:8-11) which includes a reminder of Who we creatures rightly worship or are supposed to worship.
Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created.
The Benedictus announces Jesus' triumphant arrival in Jerusalem. The Holy Ghost makes present in the Mass Jesus' Sacrifice upon Calvary. Mindful of that fact, how can we not kneel in humble adoration?

St. Matthew 21:9
And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
The Benedictus announces Jesus'  return both in the Mass and at the Second Coming. For Catholics, Jesus returns every Mass, and for those with eyes of faith, He is seen when the bread and wine become His very Body and very Blood, and is held aloft by the celebrant during the consecration.

St. Matthew 23:39
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
As we look ahead to the great feast of the Epiphany, of the solemnity of His manifestation to the gentiles, we would do well to be mindful of the other manifestations of Jesus' glory at His Baptism and at the Transfiguration.

Dr. Scott Hahn has written a fine and accessible analysis of the Book of Revelation entitled The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth.


About Dr. Hahn's book: Each time we celebrate the Mass we enter into the heavenly liturgy which is so powerfully and beautifully described in the Book of Revelation. The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth, will help you understand the Book of Revelation in light of the Mass.

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments will be appreciated and posted if 1) they are on topic and 2) preserve decorum.

Stand by your word. Do not be anonymous. Use a pseudonym.

Popular Posts

Life At The Altar Rail: 22 Behaviours Categorized

-
Image
Cantius/NLM [ 4 min read ] Some communicants make things interesting (...tricky, delicate, awkward, awesome...) at The Communion. Now don't get the wrong idea. Spoofing one's brothers' and sisters' behaviour is not meant to be proof of one's own moral or spiritual superiority. There's always a need to keep in mind the heart of another when lampooning (or celebrating) the externals, as curious or as laudable as those externals might be. The Moving Target: either the head or the tongue is moving a mile a minute. A good patener knows how to tame the fidget. See also #18: The Rubberneck. The Obstacle Course: fingertips touching the chin or mouth making it difficult for the patener to place the paten beneath the chin. The Curtain: face is completely covered with a veil. The NOFB (Not Open For Business): closed eyes, closed mouth; despite the need for a gentle prompt, typically a deeply reverent person. The Taker: wants to steal the Host from the priest. Note to commu...
Read more

You Know You're In A Progressive Catholic Parish When... .

-
Image
... you rarely (if ever) hear the following phrases. "Party like it's A.D. 1570!" "We should sing more plainchant at this parish." "I'd like to thank the choir for their sublime rendition of the Mass For Five Voices by William Byrd." "I just love the way the four torchbearers process in with such dignity." "People treat the Host like a snack. I think it's time we went back to communion on the tongue." "My entire family goes to Confession every week." "We need a central Tabernacle on the altar." "The altar servers' lace cottas are so beautiful." "I just love Father Steve's sermons about the Real Presence and living a Eucharistic life." "People are leaving in droves for Saint Pius X Parish and the reverent Mass there. Do you think we're doing something wrong here at Harvey Milk Parish?" "I'm thrilled that the design for the new church includes a choir loft....
Read more

Review: Saint Gregory's Prayer Book

-
Image
Two copies of the St. Gregory's Prayer Book (SGPB) arrived a few days ago. It is a lovely work replete with beautiful devotions drawn from the English Patrimony. Both Ordinariate and diocesan Catholics would do well to acquire a copy to access its riches. The SGPB is "a collaborative venture" of the three personal ordinariates and the Anglicanorum Coetibus Society . A blurb from the Ignatius Press site where one can go to purchase copies: https://www.ignatius.com/St-Gregorys-Prayer-Book-P3228.aspx The St Gregory's Prayer Book is a beautifully produced leatherette prayer book compiled by the Ordinariates established by Pope Benedict XVI and drawing on the riches of the Anglican liturgical heritage and the exquisite Cranmerian language of the Book of Common Prayer to further enrich the panoply of Catholic liturgy and devotion. The text includes ancient English collects, introits and hymns available together for the first time for the whole Church...
Read more

You know you're a REAL altar server when... .

-
Image
In a movie theatre, you genuflect before entering the aisle to take a seat. Riding a bus, sitting in class or at the doctor's office, and/or when watching TV, you rest your hands palms down on your thighs, finger tips at your knees. You can identify each and every variety of incense used in the Mass simply by its scent. You habitually wear black socks and black dress shoes... even when wearing shorts for gym class or at the beach. You turn a perfect right angle when entering a building. You have nightmares about serving Mass at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. You hear a bicycle bell ring and you drop to your knees. You can't resist the urge to lift a curtain from the bottom. You have a copy of Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described by Adrian Fortescue on your smartphone for recreational reading. You have a copy of Ritual Notes (11th Edition) on your smartphone for recreational reading. As a torchbearer, you can carry a processional candle without spilling one dr...
Read more

TRUE PARTICIPATION IN THE MASS

"I was gathered into the offering of the Son to the Father. I participated in the self-offering of God today."
Every effort is made herein this blog to conform to the teaching of the Church - Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus creditum est. Comments are welcome.