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Agnus Dei
This occurs in the Mass and is a Hymn to Christ in the Blessed
Sacrament, being the three petitions from the Gloria in Excelsis
addressed to Jesus as the Lamb of God.
The Angelus
This is an arrangement of the Angel's Salutation to the Blessed
Virgin in which the "Hail Mary" is said three times with Antiphons.
Benedicite
This is used in Matins in Lent and Advent as an alternative for the
Te Deum Laudamus, and is the ancient Song of the Three Holy
Children, sung by them when in the burning fiery furnace. It tells
of all created things praising the God Who made them.
Benedictus This
is the Song of Zacharius, in honor of the Coming of Christ. It is
sung at Matins. A shortened form of the Benedictus, that used at the
triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, is sung at
the Holy Eucharist as a Song Welcome to Jesus coming in the Blessed
Sacrament.
Canon of Consecration
This is the most solemn part of the Communion Service, embracing Our
Lord's Words of Institution used at the first Eucharist, and
containing the necessary form for a valid consecration of the
elements to become Christ's Body and Blood. The Canon is considered
by many to begin at the Sursum Corda, or "lift up your hearts,"
and to include all that follows up to the Communion.
Collects These
are the short prayers, made up of a number of petitions collected
together and said for the people collectively. Many of the
Collects are very ancient, and as translated in the Prayer Book are
among the most beautiful devotions to be found.
Commandments
These are God's Ten
Laws given on Mount Sinai, embodying our Duty towards God and our
Duty towards our Neighbor.
Creeds
These are three
forms of the one Creed or Confession of the Faith of the Church.
These forms are known as the Apostles', so called because
probably that of the Ancient Church of Rome, for the most part
composed in the first century, the Nicene, put forth in the fourth
century by the Councils of Nicea 325 and Constantinople 381, and the
Anthanasian, probably written in France in fifth century.
These Creeds are exact declaration of the Scriptural revelation of the
Christian Faith.
Epistles
These, as found in the Prayer Book, are selections from the writings
of Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint John, Saint James, and Saint Jude,
and such other Scriptures as may be chosen in their place, to read
at the Altar Service.
Gospels
These are the
sacred records of Our Lord's Life and Ministerial Work and Words, as
related by Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke, and Saint John,
selections from which are solemnly read at the Communion Service or
the Mass. Special honor is paid to the Gospel.
Gloria in Excelsis
This is an expanded
form of the Angel's Song sung by them on the morning of the
Nativity.
Gradual
A few verses of the
Psalms sung between the Epistle and Gospel, with an "Alleluia" or
"Tract" and at Easter, Whitsunday, Corpus Christi and All Souls,
with a "Sequence". |
Hymns of the Incarnation
These are the
Benedictus, the Gloria in Excelsis, the Magnificat, and the Nunc
Dimittis, all of which are found in Saint Luke's Gospel, which is
often called the Gospel of the Incarnation. It seems most fitting
that these New Testament Hymns should have their place in the
devotional services of the Church, associated as they are with Our
Lord's Nativity.
Introit
This is a selection
of a few verses of the Psalms sung at the entrance of the Clergy
into the Sanctuary.
Kyrie Eleison
This is a threefold
petition to God for mercy: "Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have
mercy upon us, Lord have mercy upon us." These three petitions
addressed to different Persons of the Trinity are generally said,
each one three times.
Litany
This is a beautiful
series of petitions offered unto God, originally composed to be sung
in Procession with great solemnity. The Litany is composed of five
parts: (1) The Invocations, addressed to each Person of the Godhead
individually and then collectively; (2) the Deprecations, prayers
for deliverance from various evils; (3) the Obsecrations, pleas for
mercy on account of what Christ has done for us; (4) the
Intercessions, prayers for "all sorts and conditions of men" and (5)
the Versicles and Prayers.
Lessons
Lessons are that
portion of Scripture which is read at all services of the Church.
Usually there are two lessons in every service, one from the Old
Testament and one from the New Testament in Morning and Evening
Prayer and one from the Epistles and the Gospels in Holy Communion.
Magnificat
The Magnificat is
the song of Mary as recorded in St. Luke 1:46-55 when she found that
she was going to be the Mother of Our Saviour. It is one of primary
canticles said (or sung) at Evening Prayer.
Nunc Dimittis
The Nunc Dimittis
is the song that Simeon sung to God after Mary and Joseph brought
the baby Jesus to the Temple for His Presentation as recorded in St.
Luke 2:29-32. It also is one of the primary canticles said (or sung)
at Evening Prayer.
Psalter
Psalter is another
term used to denote the Book of Psalms found in the Old Testament. A
portion of the Psalter is always recited at both Morning and Evening
Prayer.
Sanctus
The Sanctus is the
fourth principal part of the Mass. It is a song of praise to God the
Holy Trinity and introduces the Prayer of Consecration.
Te Deum
The Te Deum is a
festival canticle of the Church which lauds and praises God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. It is found in the
service of Morning Prayer and is said (or sung) on the great feast
days of the Church. |
