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How did the Roman Missal originate?

In the early Christian Church, many of the prayers that were said at Eucharist were memorized and handed down by word of mouth. Eventually the prayers were collected and written down in books known as sacramentaries (book of sacraments). Scripture readings were recorded in other books and the Psalms were written in a book called the Psalter. Throughout the ages, as these manuscripts were passed down, modifications and additions were made. Eventually, all the chants, prayers, instructions and scriptures were organized into one book. It was written in Latin and as the texts contained in it continued to evolve over the next five centuries it became quite large. After the Second Vatican Council, the Mass was translated into many different languages (the vernacular).

The Word of the Lord
A Walk through the New Mass

You probably noticed some time ago that the readers were no longer saying ‘This is the Word of the Lord’ at the end of the readings, and now simply say ‘The Word of the Lord’.

This change was made so that ‘The Word of the Lord’ would be in a form parallel with the words ‘The Body of Christ’, ‘The Blood of Christ’ and ‘The mystery of faith’ (in the Eucharistic Prayer).

The Mass readings are the word of the Lord proclaimed – not just in written form, but as they are spoken. God is present to us in the speaking of the Word; in its proclamation. This is why we should listen and not switch off and simply read from our Missals – and why our readers need to practice well, and to proclaim, with faith and love, the Word of the Lord.

 

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