Deutsche Messe
Encyclopedia
Deutsche Messe, or The German Mass
, (Deutsche Messe und Ordnung des Gottesdiensts) was published by Martin Luther
in 1526. It followed his Latin mass, Formula missae
(1523). Both of these masses were meant only as a suggestion made on request and were not expected to be used exactly as they were, but could be altered. The function of the mass, according to Luther, is to make people hear the word.
The German Mass was completely chant
ed, except for the sermon.
It should not be confused with Franz Schubert
's Deutsche Messe, a low mass
widely known in Richard Proulx
's English adaptation as the German Mass.
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
, (Deutsche Messe und Ordnung des Gottesdiensts) was published by Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
in 1526. It followed his Latin mass, Formula missae
Formula missae
Formula missae et communionis pro ecclesia Vuittembergensi was a 16th century Latin liturgy composed by Martin Luther for Lutheran churches in Wittenberg....
(1523). Both of these masses were meant only as a suggestion made on request and were not expected to be used exactly as they were, but could be altered. The function of the mass, according to Luther, is to make people hear the word.
The German Mass was completely chant
Chant
Chant is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two pitches called reciting tones. Chants may range from a simple melody involving a limited set of notes to highly complex musical structures Chant (from French chanter) is the rhythmic speaking or singing...
ed, except for the sermon.
It should not be confused with Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
's Deutsche Messe, a low mass
Low Mass
Low Mass is a Tridentine Mass defined officially in the Code of Rubrics included in the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal as Mass in which the priest does not chant the parts that the rubrics assign to him...
widely known in Richard Proulx
Richard Proulx
Richard Proulx was an American composer and editor of church music, including anthems, service music, hymn concertatos, organ music and music for handbell choir, formerly based in Chicago...
's English adaptation as the German Mass.
Order of Luther's Deutsche Messe
- A Spiritual Song or a Psalm in German
- KyrieKyrieKyrie, a transliteration of Greek κύριε , vocative case of κύριος , meaning "Lord", is the common name of an important prayer of Christian liturgy, which is also called the Kýrie, eléison ....
Eleison (three times) - CollectCollectIn Christian liturgy, a collect is both a liturgical action and a short, general prayer. In the Middle Ages, the prayer was referred to in Latin as collectio, but in the more ancient sources, as oratio. In English, and in this usage, "collect" is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable...
(read facing the altar) - EpistleEpistleAn epistle is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually an elegant and formal didactic letter. The epistle genre of letter-writing was common in ancient Egypt as part of the scribal-school writing curriculum. The letters in the New Testament from Apostles to Christians...
(read facing the people) - A German Hymn (by the whole choir)
- GospelGospelA gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
(read facing the people) - Creed sung in German
- SermonSermonA sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
(on the Gospel) - Paraphrase of the Lord's PrayerLord's PrayerThe Lord's Prayer is a central prayer in Christianity. In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, it appears in two forms: in the Gospel of Matthew as part of the discourse on ostentation in the Sermon on the Mount, and in the Gospel of Luke, which records Jesus being approached by "one of his...
- Exhortation to those who will commune
- ConsecrationConsecrationConsecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
of the Bread - ElevationElevation (Liturgy)In Christian liturgy the elevation is a ritual raising of the consecrated elements of bread and wine during the celebration of the Eucharist. The term is applied especially to that by which, in the Roman Rite of Mass, the Host and the Chalice are each shown to the people immediately after each is...
of the Body of Christ - Distribution of the Body of Christ
- SanctusSanctusThe Sanctus is a hymn from Christian liturgy, forming part of the Order of Mass. In Western Christianity, the Sanctus is sung as the final words of the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer, the prayer of consecration of the bread and wine...
paraphrased in German (or the Hymn "Gott sei Gelobet" or Huss' Hymn "Jesus Christus unser Heiland") - Consecration of the Wine
- Distribution of the Blood of Christ
- SanctusSanctusThe Sanctus is a hymn from Christian liturgy, forming part of the Order of Mass. In Western Christianity, the Sanctus is sung as the final words of the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer, the prayer of consecration of the bread and wine...
or Agnus Dei in German (or the Hymn "Gott sei Gelobet" or Huss' Hymn "Jesus Christus unser Heiland") - Thanksgiving Collect
- Aaronic Benediction
External links
- Luther, Martin (1483-1546): Deutsche Messe, 1526 as an original German text
- The German Mass and Order of Divine Service (Hanover Historical Texts Project)
- Luther, Liturgies of, article from Christian CyclopediaChristian CyclopediaChristian Cyclopedia is a one-volume compendium of theological data, ranging from ancient figures to contemporary events. It is published by Concordia Publishing House. It should not be confused with The Lutheran Cyclopedia , edited by Henry Eyster Jacobs and Charles A.W...
- http://luthersliturgicalreforms.wordpress.com/ a comparison of Luther's Latin Mass and his German Mass at the WorshipConcord Project.