Saturday 17 October 2015

Sanctus and Benedictus

Do Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy...) and Benedictus (Blessed is he who comes...) separated exist anymore?
We are not searching how Sanctus is born, and if it was born in or out of the anaphora, and with or without the Benedictus1. We are only searching if today there are any Eucharistic prayer with Sanctus separated from Benedictus.
I will explore the Roman Catholic rites, and some Anglican rites (even if this is not surely exhaustive).

Roman Catholic Church
The first four Eucharistic prayers of the Roman Missal (Ordinary Form, so-called "of Paul VI") have the Sanctus connect with the Benedictus. We can say the same for other Eucharistic prayers of some nations (e.g. the fifth Eucharistic prayer, also known as “Switzerland Eucharistic prayer”, or the Eucharistic prayers for Reconciliation).
The only exception is the second Eucharistic prayer for Masses with Children. This Eucharistic prayer has the Sanctus with Benedictus, but before the Institution Narrative the Benedictus is repeted.
Also the Extraordinary Form (so-called "Mass of Pius V", actually "of John XXIII") has the Sanctus with Benedictus.

Church of England
The first seven Eucharistic prayers and the two Additional Eucharistic prayers of the Order One of Common Worship has the Benedictus as optional element immediatly following the Sanctus, while the Sanctus is compulsory. The eighth Eucharistc prayer has not the Benedictus, and the Sanctus is the last part of the Eucharistic prayer (immediatly before the Lord's Prayer).
In the Order Two the Benedictus is not compulsory, but also in this case it follows the Sanctus.
The Book o Common Prayer has not the Benedictus and the Sanctus is said only by the priest.

Episcopal Church of the USA
In the Rite One the Benedictus 'may be added' to the Sanctus. In the four Eucharistic prayers of the Rite Two, the Benedictus is compulsory and is attached to the Sanctus.

Church in Wales
In the Eucharistic prayer 1, the Benedictus is placed before the Institution Narrative, the Sanctus is separated and is the last part of the Eucharistic prayer (immediatly before the Lord's Prayer).
In the other Eucharistic prayers, the Benedictus immediately follows the Sanctus.

Episcopal Scottish Church
All the Eucharistic prayers have the Sanctus followed by the Benedictus, both compulsory.

Anglican Church of Canada
All the Eucharistic prayers of the Book of Alternative Services have the Sanctus followed by the Benedictus, both compulsory.



1 Cf. J. A. Jungmann, Missarum Sollemnia, Ancora, Milano, 2004, pp. 100-107 (Italian edition); Paul F. Bradshaw, The Search for the Origins of Christian Worship. Sources and Methods for the Study of Early Liturgy, Oxford University Press, New York, 20022, pp. 126-128, 135-137; Paul F. Bradshaw and Maxwell E. Johnson, The Eucharistic Liturgies. Their evolution and interpretation, SPCK, London, 2012, pp. 111-121. Back to the text.

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