Introit

Introit (Latin for, feed ') is a part of the Mass and of the resulting services of the Anglican and Lutheran churches. In the original sense of the word refers to the collection of acolytes, derived from the to ( earlier stages after the prayer) spoken or sung text of Messpropriums. The Latin name of the Sundays in the church year are normally taken from the beginning of the respective introitus. In the Byzantine liturgy, the offerings are carried for the Introit at the small catchment Book of the Gospels and the large catchment.

Historical Development

Originally, the Introit was sung a psalm with a refrain -like Antiphon, who accompanied the arrival of the bishop in the Church at the beginning of the service. From the main entrance of the celebrant by step with the clergy, the church in procession, while the choir sang the Introit. Was the procession arrived at the altar, the Gloria Patri was sung. This form of the Introit was probably introduced in the 5th century, when Christian basilicas were built on a larger scale. From the 8th century the singing of the Introit was considered part of the Holy Mass and taken over by the priest - in particular in the so-called silent Fair. This practice eventually prevailed also for festive fairs and led to further development. The Introituspsalm shortened over the years and started from the 14th century until the celebrant had arrived at the altar. In the 20th century the original form has been partially restored, for example in 1922 in the Coronation Mass for Pope Pius XI .. With the instruction on the church music of 3 September 1958 it was allowed to take on additional Psalms in the Introit, when he of the solemn entry priest accompanied.

Content

The text of the Introit is part of the Proper Mass; it varies depending on the occasion of the celebration of Mass or after the time in the church year. Since the Introit today is designed as a brief introduction, he usually consisting of only the matching to the fixed secret and the liturgical texts of the day antiphon and psalm verses of one or a few. In addition to psalms, other texts were used, for example, dates back to the Introit of the many Marian feasts " Salve sancta parens ..." by Caelius Sedulius ( 5th century).