Hi:
Here is a treat from the Missal according to the usage of the archdiocese of Lyons, France.
Whereas in the Roman Missal the Preface of Christmas is chanted at the Mass of Corpus Christ, the ancient Rite of Lyons has in its Missal a proper preface for Corpus Christi. The text of the Preface recalls the formulary of the Mass and Office composed by the great St. Thomas Aquinas for this wonderful Feast. The Latin text of this Preface of the Most Holy Sacrament is here given, together with an English translation:
Vere dignum et justum est, æquum et salutáre, nos tibi semper, et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine sancte, Pater omnípotens, ætérne Deus. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Qui remótis carnálium victimárum inánibus umbris, corpus et sánguinem suum nobis in sacrifícium commendávit, ut in omni loco offerátur nómini tuo, quæ tibi sola complácuit oblátio munda. In hoc ígitur inscrutábilis sapiéntiæ et imménsæ caritátis mystério, idípsum quod semel in cruce perfécit, non cessat mirabíliter operári, ipse ófferens, et ipse oblátio. Et nos, unam secuм hóstiam efféctos, ad sacrum invítat convívium, in quo ipse cibus noster súmitur, recólitur memoria Passiónis ejus, mens implétur grátia, et futúræ glóriæ nobis pingus datur. Et ídeo cuм Angelis et Archángelis, cuм Thronis et Dominatiónibus, cuмque omni milítia cæléstis exércitus, hymnum glóriæ tuæ cánimus, sine fine dicéntes: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth. Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis. Benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis.
Truly it is worthy and just, becoming and healthful, that we should ever and everywhere make thanksgiving unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God: through Christ our Lord. Who, the empty shadows of carnal victims [of the Old Law] being taken away, hath commended unto us His own Body and Blood as sacrifice, that in all places it may be offered unto Thy name, which spotless oblation is alone well-pleasing unto Thee. Therefore what He hath once wrought upon the Cross doth not cease to marvellously work in this mystery of inscrutable wisdom and immense charity, He Himself offering, He Himself being the oblation. And us, being made one through this Sacrifice, doth He beckon us unto the sacred banquet in which He Himself is received as our food, the memory of His Passion is recalled, the soul is filled with grace, and the pledge of future glory is given unto us. And therefore together with the Angels and Archangels, with the Thrones and Dominions, and together with all the warriors of the celestial hosts, do we sing the hymn of Thy glory, endlessly proclaiming: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. The heavens and the earth are replenished with Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Latin texts given above are taken from the Missale Romanum in quo antiqui ritus Lugdunenses servatur Apostolicæ Sedis auctoritate recognitum et probatum (Lyons: Typis Emmanuel Vitte, 1956), approved by authority of His Eminence Pierre Marie Cardinal Gerlier, Archbishop of Lyons and Vienna, and Primate of Gaul, given on the 29th of June, 1953.
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