Preface (liturgy)

The preface (Latin Praefatio, " input word Vorgebet " ) is part of the Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran liturgy of the Holy Mass, the Divine Liturgy of the Last Supper and worship. The preface opens the Eucharistic Prayer ( in the Orthodox liturgy Αναφορά anaphora " collection " called ). In the Latin Church and the Lutheran Churches, it belongs to the Proper Mass, the variable parts of the liturgy. It varies depending on the festivals and feasts and is sung or spoken. The Eucharistic Prayer is one of the so-called official prayers, which are always presented by the principal celebrant of the Mass is celebrated, of how the entire Eucharistic Prayer, occupies the orante-pose.

Prefaces are also part of solemn consecration of Pontifikales actions, such as the consecration of the church. The second part of the Exsultet in celebration of the Easter Vigil is designed in the manner of a preface.

Introductory acclamations

The Eucharistic Prayer, the introductory acclamations are unchanged in its wording since the 3rd century. Already Hippolytus of Rome knew the dialogue between priest and congregation, motioning him theologically. The formula Gratias Agamus ( " Let us give thanks " ) can be derived from Judaism, just as the answer Dignum et iustum est ( "It is right and just "). According to the ancient culture in which the assembled people confirmed important decisions by acclamation, press reputation and Gegenruf from before the Preface that the church congregation through a priest or bishop wants to pay homage to God. The celebrant is not an isolated worshipers, but as leader of the community before God.

Latin

The acclamation is in Latin:

  • Celebrant: Dominus vobiscum.
  • Town: Et cum spiritu tuo.
  • Celebrant: Sursum corda.
  • Town: Habemus ad Dominum.
  • Celebrant: Gratias Deo nostro Agamus Domino.
  • Town: Dignum et iustum est.

German

  • Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
  • Town: And with thy spirit.
  • Celebrant: Lift up your hearts. ( Lift up your hearts! )
  • Town: We lift them up to the Lord. ( We lift them to the Lord. )
  • Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. ( Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. )
  • Town: That's right and just.

Byzantine

The following version of the acclamation is used in Orthodox, Byzantine and Ancient Near Eastern Catholic rites, both for the Liturgy of St.. John Chrysostom and the Liturgy of St., St. Basil the Great.

Church Slavonic:

  • Priest: Станем добре, станем со страхом, вонмем, святое возношение в мире приносите.
  • Chorus: Милость мира, жертву хваления.
  • Priest: Благодать Господа нашего Иисуса Христа, и любы Бога и Отца, и причастие Святаго Духа, буди со всеми вами.
  • Chorus: И со духом твоим.
  • Priest: Горе имеим сердца.
  • Chorus: Имамы ко Господу.
  • Priest: Благодарим Господа.
  • Chorus: Достойно и праведно есть ...

Other eastern rites

As the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church, especially the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, will have variations on the Sursum Corda, used depending on the particular anaphora.

Preface

- Then the Preface, with Vere Dignum et iustum est, et aequum salutare ... ("In truth, it is right and just, you, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, always and everywhere to give thanks ... " ) "or follows in the newer prayers - a similar formulation begins. The preface refers to the last sentence of acclamation and accentuates the entire Eucharistic Prayer as a solemn prayer of thanksgiving: " The εύαγγέλιον (Gospel, good news ) corresponds to the εὐχαριστία ( Eucharist, Thanksgiving ). " The Preface ends with [ ... ] sine fine dicentes ("[ ... ] and call without ceasing " ) or [ ... ] una voce dicentes (" and sing [ ... ] the praise of your glory "). Adjoining the preface directly to the Sanctus.

The structure of the Preface follows the following scheme:

  • Solemn mention of God's name
  • Praise God for the gift of salvation through Christ, depending on varying celebration occasion, often in the phrase by Christ, Dominum nostrum " through Christ our Lord " culminates
  • Attunement in the worship of the heavenly choirs: Et ideo cum angelis et archangelis [ ... ] gloriam tuam praedicamus ( " And so we join the angels and saints [ ... ]")

The Roman Missal of 1962 saw 16 different prefaces for the feasts of the liturgical year and different occasions before, the Missal of 1970 increased to 85 and reached back on ancient texts.

An example:

Vere Dignum et iustum est, et aequum salutare, nos tibi, sancte Father, semper et ubique gratias agere by filium dilectionis tuae Jesus Christ, Verbum tuum per quod cuncta fecisti: quem misisti nobis Salvatorem et Redemptorem, de Spiritu Sancto et incarnatum ex Virgine natum. Qui voluntatem adimplens tuam et populum tibi sanctum acquirens extendit manus cum pateretur, ut mortem solveret et resurrectionem manifestaret. Et ideo cum Angelis et omnibus Sanctis gloriam tuam praedicamus, una voce dicentes:

In truth, it is right and just, you, O Lord, holy Father, always and everywhere to give thanks through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. He is the Word through whom you made everything. You sent him as our Savior and Redeemer. He became man through the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. To fulfill your purpose and to acquire you a holy people, he dying arms on wood of the cross. He has broken the power of death and made ​​known unto the resurrection. And so we join the angels and saints, and sing together with them the praise of your glory:

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