Dialogue Mass
Encyclopedia
A Dialogue Mass is a Low Mass
, in which the people recited some parts of the Latin text of the Tridentine Mass
.
In November 1922, the Holy See
's Sacred Congregation of the Council (now called the Congregation for Bishops) gave approval to the practice whereby "at least in religious houses and institutions for youth, all people assisting at the Mass make the responses at the same time with the acolytes", a practice that it declared praiseworthy in view of the evident desire expressed in papal documents "to instil into the souls of the faithful a truly Christian and collective spirit, and prepare them for active participation."
The practice was already established in Belgium and in Germany, even before the First World War.
Further warm approval was granted by the Sacred Congregation of Rites (corresponding to today's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments) on 30 November 1935, and on 3 September 1958.
In spite of this official encouragement, Dialogue Mass never became prevalent in English-speaking countries, and current celebrations of Tridentine Mass in these countries are in practice rarely structured as a Dialogue Mass. (The one exception in the English speaking world was Scotland, with its strong ties to many countries and especially to France, Scotland featured the Dialogue Mass at Edinburgh Cathedral, introduced there in the 1920s, and in the years that followed it became popular throughout the country.) In other countries, however, such as France, Italy, Spain, and Germany, the Dialogue Mass met with a greater acceptance. Quite a number of Tridentine Masses currently celebrated in these countries use the Dialogue Mass form.
that fell to the servers.
In addition, the people could be allowed to recite those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass that are sung by all at a Missa Cantata
: Gloria, Creed, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei.
They were also allowed to recite with the priest the triple "Domine non sum dignus" that he said as part of the rite of Communion of the faithful.
Rarely, the people also recited the Introit, Offertory and Communion Antiphons, which were sung by the choir at Solemn or High Mass
.
The form, if any, to be used in a particular diocese was left to the discretion of the bishop.
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...
, in which the people recited some parts of the Latin text of the Tridentine Mass
Tridentine Mass
The Tridentine Mass is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published from 1570 to 1962. It was the most widely celebrated Mass liturgy in the world until the introduction of the Mass of Paul VI in December 1969...
.
History
An important intermediate development in the liturgical reform culminating with the vernacular Mass as authorized by Vatican Council II. Previously, the people had little active participation in the Mass other than interior disposition. The introduction of bilingual hand Missals (Latin-vernacular) occurred first in Germany in the 19th century in defiance of church law. Later given authorization, they allowed the laity to quietly follow the Mass ("Pray the Mass") rather than the traditionalist practice of saying private prayers as the priest celebrated. The subsequent step was the people actually saying the Latin responses of the Mass called the Dialogue Mass.In November 1922, the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
's Sacred Congregation of the Council (now called the Congregation for Bishops) gave approval to the practice whereby "at least in religious houses and institutions for youth, all people assisting at the Mass make the responses at the same time with the acolytes", a practice that it declared praiseworthy in view of the evident desire expressed in papal documents "to instil into the souls of the faithful a truly Christian and collective spirit, and prepare them for active participation."
The practice was already established in Belgium and in Germany, even before the First World War.
Further warm approval was granted by the Sacred Congregation of Rites (corresponding to today's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments) on 30 November 1935, and on 3 September 1958.
In spite of this official encouragement, Dialogue Mass never became prevalent in English-speaking countries, and current celebrations of Tridentine Mass in these countries are in practice rarely structured as a Dialogue Mass. (The one exception in the English speaking world was Scotland, with its strong ties to many countries and especially to France, Scotland featured the Dialogue Mass at Edinburgh Cathedral, introduced there in the 1920s, and in the years that followed it became popular throughout the country.) In other countries, however, such as France, Italy, Spain, and Germany, the Dialogue Mass met with a greater acceptance. Quite a number of Tridentine Masses currently celebrated in these countries use the Dialogue Mass form.
Forms of Dialogue Mass
A minimum form of Dialogue Mass was, as indicated in the 1922 document referred to above, for the people to join with the servers in reciting the responses in the Ordinary of the MassOrdinary of the Mass
The ordinary, in Roman Catholic and other Western Christian liturgies, refers to the part of the Eucharist or of the canonical hours that is reasonably constant without regard to the date on which the service is performed...
that fell to the servers.
In addition, the people could be allowed to recite those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass that are sung by all at a Missa Cantata
Missa Cantata
Missa Cantata is a form of Tridentine Mass defined officially in 1960 as a sung Mass celebrated without sacred ministers, i.e., deacon and subdeacon.Other names in pre-1960 sources:...
: Gloria, Creed, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei.
They were also allowed to recite with the priest the triple "Domine non sum dignus" that he said as part of the rite of Communion of the faithful.
Rarely, the people also recited the Introit, Offertory and Communion Antiphons, which were sung by the choir at Solemn or High Mass
Solemn Mass
Solemn Mass , sometimes also referred to as Solemn High Mass or simply High Mass, is, when used not merely as a description, the full ceremonial form of the Tridentine Mass, celebrated by a priest with a deacon and a subdeacon, requiring most of the parts of the Mass to be sung, and the use of...
.
The form, if any, to be used in a particular diocese was left to the discretion of the bishop.