Dominican Rite Sung Mass

[[Sung Mass]] (Missa Cantata) in the [[Dominican Rite]]. Celebrated at the High Altar.

Roles¹¶

Senior Acolyte
Junior Acolyte
Thurifer
A Boat Bearer may be used if desired. When used, he follows the Thurifer and assists with imposition of incense.
Extra Servers may sit in choir, vested. They may receive Communion with the core Servers, and may assist with the Paten if needed.

Preparation¶

Order of Mass¶

Procession¶

Thurifer, Boat Bearer, and any Servers in choir start seated in Choir Stalls#High, and do not process.
Procession starts in Cloister Walk. Acolytes bear lit Processional Candles, and if they do not have the words to the Confiteor memorized, each carry a prayer card under their arms.
An Acolyte rings bell, then Acolytes lead procession as a pair, JA on the left, SA on the right.
Proceed along Procession#Short Cloister Walk Procession to High Altar. Approach Sanctuary from the side, do not square up as at Roman Rite Solemn Mass.
Approach and enter Presbytery. Split and get into Approach Formation.
Genuflect with Priest.
Standby while the Celebrant deposits the Chalice Stack on the High Altar, opens the Missal, and returns to Approach Formation.

Confiteor¶

After Celebrant makes the sign of the cross, when he bows for the Confiteor, Acolytes turn inward and face one another, standing erect.
Say the Acolyte parts for the Confiteor. If needed, hold the prayer card on the forearm of the arm closer to the High Altar.
After Celebrant finishes the Confiteor and stands erect, turn to face the High Altar. If he used one, an Acolyte accepts the prayer card from the Celebrant.
When the Celebrant starts to ascend the High Altar, split off and place Processional Candles around the back sides of the High Altar, behind the hanging cloth.
T-Formation

Officium & Kyrie¶

Swing Movement to Epistle-side Formation.
Respond to Officium and Kyrie with other Ministers.
If music continues, partially swing to a line directly behind the Celebrant, and wait there until he starts to return to the middle.
Swing Movement to T-Formation.

Gloria¶

From T-Formation, Celebrant intones Gloria.
Swing Movement to Epistle-side Formation.
The Celebrant says the Gloria while it is sung.
Swing Movement to T-Formation.
If the music is long and the Celebrant would like to sit:
- Approach Formation. Profound Bow.
- Precede Celebrant to the Sedilia and help him set.
- When the music is almost done, help him rise.
- Approach Formation. Profound Bow.

Collect¶

Transition to T-Formation.
Swing Movement to Epistle-side Formation.
Priest prays the Collect.

Epistle¶

Remain in Epistle-side Formation.
Priest sings the Epistle.

Gradual¶

Remain in Epistle-side Formation.
Priest prays the [[Gradual]].

After the Priest finishes reading the Gradual, while it is still being sung by the Schola Cantorum, the Chalice is prepared and incense is imposed for the #Gospel.

Preparation of the Chalice & Imposition of Incense¶

Thurifer enters the Presbytery with Thurible and Incense Boat, waits for T-Formation.
Acolytes Swing Movement back to T-Formation with the Priest.
Acolytes Profound Bow, Thurifer Genuflects.
Acolytes move together to the Presbytery#Niche, collect Cruets. Thurifer follows them and waits near the Presbytery#Niche.
Acolytes ascend the Epistle Side to assist with the Chalice. JA prompts Benedicite and responds Amen. Both return to the Presbytery#Niche.
Junior Acolyte ascends the Epistle Side and takes the Missal. Traveling on his step, he moves to the center, does a Profound Bow, moves to the Gospel Side, ascends, deposits the Missal, descends to his step, moves to the center, Profound Bow, T-Formation.
Senior Acolyte, moving along the foot of the High Altar but keeping alignment with the Junior Acolyte until the center, returns to T-Formation. Profound Bow.
Thurifer ascends the Epistle Side, imposes incense for the Celebrant after the blessing, descends the Epistle Side, and returns to T-Formation.
Upon JA's return to T-Formation, Acolytes split to light and retrieve Processional Candles, and return to T-Formation.

Gospel¶

All Profound Bow with Celebrant and Swing Movement to Gospel-side Formation. Acolytes leave room for the Thurifer to ascend the Gospel Side.
Priest introduce the Gospel and makes crosses.
Thurifer ascends the Gospel Side, Priest incenses the Missal, Thurifer retrieves Thurible and descends to Gospel-side Formation.
Priest sings the Gospel.
Swing Movement to T-Formation.
Celebrant and Thurifer Genuflect, Acolytes Profound Bow.
Thurifer deposits items in Friars' Chapel, then sits in Choir Stalls.
Acolytes deposit candles, T-Formation, then sit in the Presbytery.

Homily¶

Remain seated.
Thurifer should add coals to Thurible during homily, and Imposition of Incense#At the Stand just before it's time to enter the Presbytery for the #Credo.
When the homily is finished:
- Acolytes get into T-Formation, Profound Bow, light and retrieve Processional Candles, and return to T-Formation.
- Thurifer imposes incense in the Friars' Chapel, then enters the Sanctuary and follows the Celebrant into T-Formation.
- Thurifer and Celebrant Genuflect, Acolytes Profound Bow.

Credo¶

Celebrant intones Credo, then Swing Movement to Gospel-side Formation.
Celebrant finishes his Credo, Swing Movement to T-Formation.
Immediately break into Credo Formation.
Immediately after Genuflection:
- Acolytes return Processional Candles, then return to T-Formation.
- Thurifer Genuflects, Thurible, and returns to Choir Stalls#High.

Offertory Verse¶

Celebrant: Dominus Vobiscum, Et cum spiritu tuo, Oremus
Swing Movement to Gospel-side Formation. Celebrant prays the verse.
Swing Movement to T-Formation.
During Offertory Verse, Thurifer should enter Passageway to prepare Thurible.

Offertory¶

T-Formation will break immediately.
- Acolytes Profound Bow and then go to Epistle side to prepare Lavabo and wait near Presbytery#Niche.
- Thurifer enters the Presbytery, Genuflects, then heads to the Epistle side near the Presbytery#Niche.
Thurifer assists with incense:
- Ascend Epistle side and impose incense for the Celebrant after receiving the blessing. Give Thurible to Celebrant. Descend Epistle side and wait near Presbytery#Niche.
- Celebrant incenses Altar.
- Ascend Epistle side to retrieve Thurible. Incense the Celebrant three times. Descend Epistle side. Get into Preface Formation (alone) holding the Thurible AND THE INCENSE BOAT.
After Thurifer descends, Acolytes assist with Lavabo, SA with the finger towel and JA with the basin and ewer.
Acolytes join Preface Formation, and Profound Bow. JA brings the Hand Bells with him and sets them on the Bottom Step.

Preface¶

Thurifer Imposition of Incense#Standing Self Charge.
Celebrant: Per Omnia Saecula Saeculorum...
At Sursum Corda:
- SA and JA face each other, Moderate Bow.
- SA and JA face Thurifer. All three Moderate Bow.
- Thurifer incenses: SA once, JA once. When being incensed, one does a Head Bow.
- All three Moderate Bow.
- All return to Preface Formation facing East, including Thurifer.

Sanctus¶

JA kneels to pick up the Hand Bells, and stands.
At Celebrant's intonation of Sanctus, JA performs three short bell rings, then puts down the Hand Bells.
Thurifer Imposition of Incense#Standing Self Charge.
SA and JA turn in to face each other. Each does the Sign of the Cross.
Immediately after, Acolytes go around High Altar to their sides and light the Sanctus Candles.
Return to Preface Formation.

Epiclesis¶

Upon returning, JA kneels to pick up Hand Bells.
Celebrant will make 5 signs of the cross over the Altar contents. JA rings the bell once.
- This may not be visible from below, so the JA should work out a cue with the Celebrant (e.g. the Celebrant taps his foot).
SA and JA (with Hand Bells) ascend the Altar directly and kneel on the Top Step on either side of the Celebrant.
Thurifer kneels on the Bottom Step in the center.

Consecration¶

All kneel in place.
First elevation:
- JA rings bell when Celebrant's knee touches the ground.
- JA and SA lift the Celebrant's Chasuble.
- JA rings bell at apex of the elevation.
- JA and SA lower the Celebrant's Chasuble.
- JA rings bell when Celebrant's knee touches the ground (again).
Second elevation, same as first.
Immediately after second elevation, all Servers stand and return to Preface Formation.
Thurifer Genuflects and leaves to deposit Thurible and return to Choir Stalls.
Acolytes Profound Bow and remain in Preface Formation.

Pater Noster¶

Preface Formation.

Agnus Dei¶

Celebrant intones Pax domini sit semper vobiscum, respond Et cum spiritu tuo.
JA will ring the Hand Bells once at the start of the Celebrant's Agnus Dei. He doesn't need to set them back down.
Both Acolytes recite the Agnus Dei.

Priest's Communion¶

While reciting the Agnus Dei, Acolytes break to the sides and ascend the High Altar to kneel on the Predella, facing inward, on their respective sides. SA gets the Paten along the way.

Choir's Communion¶

Everyone says Domine non sum dignus three times.
SA receives Communion holding the Paten for himself. Then he precedes the Celebrant to the Gospel Side, walking on his step and not stopping to reverence, and holds to the Paten while JA receives Communion.
If there are Dominicans present, do Choir Communion with the Communion Cloth:
- SA gives the Paten to the Celebrant and returns to the Epistle Side traveling on his step, not stopping to reverence.
- Acolytes descend, JA retrieves the Communion Cloth, and both meet for T-Formation.
- Acolytes Profound Bow, ascend the High Altar, Profound Bow, kneel on the Top Step with space for two people in between, and then unfold and hold Communion Cloth taut between them.
- Thurifer, any other servers, and anyone else in choir receive Communion two by two
  - Approach High Altar in a pair.
  - Profound Bow. If another pair received Communion ahead of you, bow in sync with their second bow.
  - Kneel on step, receive, stand,
  - Profound Bow and descend in an outward motion to allow space for next pair to replace you.
- After Choir Communion:
  - Acolytes:
    - Fold cloth so as not to drop fragments, JA takes the cloth.
    - Stand, Approach Formation, descend, and Profound Bow, then break formation to sides of High Altar. JA deposits Communion Cloth on the way.
    - Kneel on top step of High Altar on the sides facing each other.
  - Designated Paten holders (usually just the Crucifer) ready Patens and wait at foot of Presbytery for their Ministers.
  - Anyone else returns to their seats in Choir Stalls#High.
If there are no Dominicans present, proceed using only the Paten:
- JA stands by kneeling on the Predella.
- Thurifer and other Servers kneel on the top step of the Presbytery.
- SA descends the Altar directly and precedes the Celebrant to assist with Communicating the Thurifer and other Servers.
- SA gives Paten to a Server, who assists with Communion. If multiple are needed, other Server(s) may retrieve more Patens from the Presbytery#Niche.
- SA returns to the foot of the High Altar, Profound Bow, goes to the Gospel Side, ascends the Gospel Side, and kneels on the Predella.

Peoples' Communion¶

Paten holders accompany their Ministers and hold Patens. Everyone else remains kneeling in their places.
When there are no more communicants, Paten holders accompany Ministers to foot of Presbytery, give Patens to Ministers, and return to seats in Choir Stalls.
After Peoples' Communion, all Servers except the Acolytes remain in choir through the end of Mass.

Ablutions¶

Cue: No communicants remain. The Ministers approach the Presbytery.
Acolytes stand, move to two-person Approach Formation, Profound Bow, then walk in a pair to the Presbytery#Niche.
SA readies the Cruets, ascends, assists with the first ablution, and descends.
JA ascends, retrieves the Missal, and moves it to the Gospel Side, traveling on his step and doing a Profound Bow in the center. He descends the Gospel Side and returns to T-Formation.
SA ascends, assists with the second ablution, descends, deposits the Cruets, and returns to T-Formation.
Acolytes Profound Bow, extinguish Sanctus Candles, and return to T-Formation.

Communion Verse¶

Acolytes Swing Movement to Epistle-side Formation with the Celebrant if able. He may already be there, in which case swing to join him.
Swing Movement to T-Formation.

Post-Communion Prayer and Dismissal¶

Swing Movement to Epistle-side Formation.
At Amen, Swing Movement to T-Formation.
Celebrant: Dominus Vobiscum. Deacon: Ite missa est.
Cue: Benedictio. Acolytes bow for the blessing and make the sign of the cross.

Last Gospel¶

Swing Movement to Gospel-side Formation.
Response and crosses at start of Gospel.
Genuflect at appropriate time with Celebrant.
Swing Movement to T-Formation.

Recession¶

Acolytes immediately break T-Formation to retrieve Processional Candles.
Return to Approach Formation, Celebrant will have descended the Altar and joined.
Genuflect with Celebrant.
Acolytes lead Celebrant out of Sanctuary through the Passageway and directly into the Sacristy. They pray Post-Mass Prayer with Ministers#Dominican Rite.
After Recession and any hymns, other Servers can approach foot of Presbytery, Genuflect, and then enter Sacristy through Passageway.

References¶

DCfMaB > Part Two, Chapter XIII.

DCfMaB > p. 14. ↩
The number of Sanctus Candles for [[Sung Mass]] is specified as "one (or several)" in a post on Fr. Augustine Thompson O.P.'s blog. We use two to match what is used at Dominican Rite Solemn High Mass. ↩