The Late Medieval Mass

from the thirteenth century to the Reformation¹

 
Fore-Mass
	Preparatory Prayers
	Introit or Introductory Psalm 
	Kyrie
	Gloria 
	Nicene Creed and other declarations of faith  
	Prone or prayers 

Offertory
	Offertory and preparation of the bread and wine 
	Priest's washing of hands and secret prayer over the gifts

Eucharistic Service
	Preface and Sanctus
	Canon 
	Elevation of the host
	Lord's Prayer
	Agnus Dei
	Prayer for Peace
	Kiss of Peace
	Communion
	Post Communion Prayer and Benediction

¹This chart is based upon three sources: John Bossy, The Mass as a Social Institution," Past and Present, 100 (1983), 30; Virginia Reinburg, "Liturgy and the Laity in Late Medieval and Reformation France," Sixteenth Century Journal, 23 (1992), 547; and Michael B. Aune, To Move the Heart (San Francisco: Christian Universities Press, 1994), 39-40. The descriptions in the following footnotes of certain parts of the Mass come from Bossy and Aune.

Introit: "exposing the predicament of unredeemed humanity and a confession of sin"

Gloria: "announcement of redemption"

Declarations: "A series of declarations of faith" including readings from the scriptures and the Nicene Creed.

Prayers:"bidding prayers"

Offerings: for sacrifice; "the congregation prepared itself....by contributing to the support of its pastor."

Canon: "expressed in terms of sacrifice and including as its chief event the consecration of the bread and wine, by which they became the body and blood of Christ"

Post Communion: various concluding matters including the blessing of the congregation by the priests before its departure, Last Gospel (John 1:1-14).

Last updated: 5 June 1998.
Comments to: Bill Wright

The Late Medieval Mass

from the thirteenth century to the Reformation1

from the thirteenth century to the Reformation¹