Degrees of the Dialog Mass

The Instruction "De Musica Sacra et Sacra Liturgia" (3 September 1958) of the Sacred Congregation of Rites establishes four degrees of the Dialog Mass. The following provisions are excerpted from that Instruction:

"28. In the case of low Masses, too, let special care be taken that the faithful are present "not as strangers or as mute spectators", but that they exercise the kind of participation which is required by so great a mystery and which yields most abundant fruit."

"31. A third and more perfect [see note 1, below] form of participation is achieved when the faithful respond liturgically to the priest celebrant, taking part as it were in a dialogue with him, and saying aloud the parts that belong to them.

In this more perfect form of participation, four degrees or stages can be distinguished:

a) The first degree, when the faithful make the easier liturgical responses in answer to the priest celebrant: namely, Amen; Et cum spiritu tuo; Deo gratias; Gloria tibi Domine; Laus tibi, Christe; Habemus ad Dominum; Dignum et iustum est; Sed libera nos a malo;

b) The second degree, when the faithful also say the parts which according to the rubrics are to be said by the server, and if holy Communion is distributed during Mass, also [the Confiteor and (see note 2, below)] the triple Domine, non sum dignus;

c) The third degree, when the faithful recite with the priest celebrant parts of the Ordinary of the Mass as well, namely: the Gloria in excelsis Deo; Credo; Sanctus-Benedictus; Agnus Dei;

d) The fourth degree, when the faithful likewise say aloud with the celebrant parts what belong to the Proper of the Mass: Introit; Gradual; Offertory; Communion. This last degree of participation can be employed with fitting dignity only by more advanced groups well trained for it."

"32. In low Masses the entire Pater Noster, since it is a fitting and ancient prayer of preparation for Communion, may be recited by the faithful together with the priest --  but only in Latin, with all adding the Amen. In no case may this recitation be in the vernacular."

"34. The priest celebrant, in pronouncing all those parts which according to the rubrics he must say aloud, should, especially if the church is large and the congregation numerous, so raise the voice that all the faithful will be able to follow the sacred action properly and conveniently."

"This Instruction on sacred music and the sacred liturgy was submitted to His Holiness Pope Pius XII by the undersigned Cardinal Prefect [C. Cardinal Cicognani] of the Sacred Congregation of Rites. His Holiness deigned to approve it in its entirety and in all its parts. He commanded that it be promulgated and be conscientiously observed by all whom it concerns.

Anything whatever to the contrary notwithstanding.

Rome, from the office of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, on the feast of St. Pius X, September 3, 1958." [see note 3, below]

NOTES

1. The original Latin text here reads as follows: "31. Tertius denique isque plenior modus obtinetur ...." A.A.S. (1958) 642. At least one translation uses "most perfect" for plenior, perhaps because the third form is one of three, but the Latin clearly uses the comparative. Also, one wonders if using "more perfect" rather than "fuller" or "more complete" for plenior evidences a personal bias on the part of the translator.

2. This so-called third Confiteor of the Mass was eliminated in the revision of the Ritus Servandus for the 1962 Roman Missal.

3. The Venerable Pius XII, Pope, died on 9 October 1958, a little over a month after the promulgation of this Instruction.

In principio.

Next week on 4 December 2013 we observe the fiftieth anniversary of the promulgation by Pope Paul VI of the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC).

This blog is being created as a resource for those Catholics who desire to see the teachings and directives of the Second Vatican Council respected and observed in the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Latin Rites of the Catholic Church. The 1962 Roman Missal was the missal of the Second Vatican Council. The final vote on the Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy was 2147 in the affirmative (including Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre) and 4 in the negative.

From the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy

of the Second Vatican Council

4 December 1963

"The Church earnestly desires that all the faithful be led to that full, conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations called for by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as 'a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people' (1 Pt 2:9, see 2:4-5) is their right and duty by reason of their baptism." (SC no. 14, para. 1)

"Nevertheless steps should be taken enabling the faithful to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass belonging to them." (SC no. 54, para. 2)

From the Encyclical "Mediator Dei"

of the Venerable Pius XII, Pope

20 November 1947

"Therefore, they are to be praised who with the idea of getting the Catholic people to take part more easily and more fruitfully in the Mass strive to make them familiar with the 'Roman Missal,' so that the faithful, united with the priest may pray together in the very words and sentiments of the Church. They also are to be commended who strive to make the Liturgy even in an external way a sacred act in which all who are present may share. This can be done in more than one way, when, for instance, the whole congregation in accordance with the rules of the Liturgy, either answer the priest in an orderly and fitting manner, or sing hymns suitable to the different parts of the Mass, or do both, or finally in High Masses when they answer the prayers of the minister of Jesus Christ and also sing the liturgical chant."

From the Motu Proprio "Tra le sollecitudini"

of Saint Pius X, Pope

22 November 1903

"There [i.e, in their churches] Our people assemble for the purpose of acquiring the Christian spirit from its first and indispensable source, namely, active participation in the most sacred mysteries and in the public and solemn prayer of the Church."

. . .

"Gregorian Chant must be restored to the people so that they may again take a more active part in the sacred liturgy, as was the case in ancient times."