Memorial Acclamation
Encyclopedia
In Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and some Anglican and Methodist churches, the Memorial Acclamation is a part of the Eucharistic Prayer
. It is sung or recited by the congregation.
It is most commonly used after the Words of Institution
.
, the priest says or sings, "Let us proclaim the mystery of faith", thus inviting the congregation to recite one of the following four acclamations:
The Latin
text of the Roman Missal
has only the following three acclamations:
The first English acclamation is a loose translation of the first in Latin, turning what is a prayer addressed to Jesus into a third-person statement. The second, derived from words in the first Easter Preface, is an English interpolation into the text of the Missal. The third and fourth depart less from the Latin original.
In Canada each of the four English acclamations is introduced with a unique introduction:
The revised English translation of the Roman Missal, which is expected to be put into use in most English-speaking countries on the first Sunday in Advent in 2011 (it is already in use in South Africa and New Zealand) has three acclamations, each a faithful translation of the corresponding Latin acclamation:
There is a single introductory phrase, which is simply: "The mystery of faith", corresponding to the Latin "Mysterium fidei
".
has no such congregational acclamation and incorporates the phrase Mysterium fidei (The mystery of faith) within the Words of Institution.
The Book of Alternative Services
of the Anglican Church of Canada
has an acclamation, as well as some United Methodist churches. Lutherans also have an acclamation. The Episcopal Church (United States)
has the first form of the acclamation in it's Rite II Eucharistic Prayer in the 1979 version of the Book of Common Prayer.
Anaphora (liturgy)
The Anaphora is the most solemn part of the Divine liturgy, Mass, or other Christian Communion rite where the offerings of bread and wine are consecrated as the body and blood of Christ. This is the usual name for this part of the Liturgy in Eastern Christianity, but it is more often called the...
. It is sung or recited by the congregation.
It is most commonly used after the Words of Institution
Words of Institution
The Words of Institution are words echoing those of Jesus himself at his Last Supper that, when consecrating bread and wine, Christian Eucharistic liturgies include in a narrative of that event...
.
Form of the acclamation
In the 1973 English translation of the Roman MissalRoman Missal
The Roman Missal is the liturgical book that contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the Mass in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.-Situation before the Council of Trent:...
, the priest says or sings, "Let us proclaim the mystery of faith", thus inviting the congregation to recite one of the following four acclamations:
- Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
- Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.
- When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.
- Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the world.
The Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
text of the Roman Missal
Roman Missal
The Roman Missal is the liturgical book that contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the Mass in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.-Situation before the Council of Trent:...
has only the following three acclamations:
- Mortem tuam annuntiámus, Dómine, et tuam resurrectiónem confitémur, donec vénias.
- Quotiescúmque manducámus panem hunc et cálicem bíbimus, mortem tuam annuntiámus, Dómine, donec vénias.
- Salvátor mundi, salva nos, qui per crucem et resurrectiónem tuam liberásti nos.
The first English acclamation is a loose translation of the first in Latin, turning what is a prayer addressed to Jesus into a third-person statement. The second, derived from words in the first Easter Preface, is an English interpolation into the text of the Missal. The third and fourth depart less from the Latin original.
In Canada each of the four English acclamations is introduced with a unique introduction:
- V: Let us proclaim the Mystery of Faith! R: Christ has died ...
- V: Praise to You, Lord Jesus, firstborn from the dead! R: Dying you destroyed our death ...
- V: We are faithful, Lord, to your command! R: When we eat this bread ...
- V: Christ is Lord of all ages! R: Lord, by your cross ...
The revised English translation of the Roman Missal, which is expected to be put into use in most English-speaking countries on the first Sunday in Advent in 2011 (it is already in use in South Africa and New Zealand) has three acclamations, each a faithful translation of the corresponding Latin acclamation:
- We proclaim your Death, O Lord, /and profess your Resurrection, /until you come again.
- When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, /we proclaim your Death, O Lord, /until you come again.
- Save us, Savior of the world, /for by your Cross and Resurrection /you have set us free.
There is a single introductory phrase, which is simply: "The mystery of faith", corresponding to the Latin "Mysterium fidei
Mysterium fidei (Latin phrase)
Mysterium Fidei, a Latin phrase meaning mystery of faith or mystery of the faith, is a Christian theological term for an article of faith or doctrine which defies man’s ability to grasp fully...
".
Other liturgies
The Tridentine MassTridentine 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...
has no such congregational acclamation and incorporates the phrase Mysterium fidei (The mystery of faith) within the Words of Institution.
The Book of Alternative Services
Book of Alternative Services
The Book of Alternative Services is the contemporary, inclusive-language liturgical book used alongside the Book of Common Prayer in most parishes of the Anglican Church of Canada...
of the Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
has an acclamation, as well as some United Methodist churches. Lutherans also have an acclamation. The Episcopal Church (United States)
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
has the first form of the acclamation in it's Rite II Eucharistic Prayer in the 1979 version of the Book of Common Prayer.
See also
- Mass (liturgy)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...
- Mass (music)Mass (music)The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
- Text and rubrics of the Roman CanonText and rubrics of the Roman CanonBefore the 1970 revision of the Roman Missal, the Mass had, in the Roman Rite, only one Anaphora or Eucharistic Prayer, which was referred to as the Canon of the Mass. Since the 1970 revision, which made only minimal changes in the text, but somewhat more important changes in the rubrics, it is...
- Roman RiteRoman RiteThe Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
- Mass of Paul VIMass of Paul VIThe Mass of Pope Paul VI is the liturgy of the Catholic Mass of the Roman Rite promulgated by Paul VI in 1969, after the Second Vatican Council...
- Divine Service (Lutheran)
- EucharistEucharistThe Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...