A Guide to Participating in the Sung Mass on Sundays according to the Traditional Roman Rite

What is the Mass? How do we attend the Mass?

The Mass is both a perpetual commemoration of the sacrifice on the Cross and a sacred banquet in which we partake of the Body and Blood of Christ. In the Traditional Mass, all face the same direction towards God in worship. The priest, acting in the person of Christ, celebrates the Mass, and the congregation participates by offering their gratitude and praise to God.

Gregorian Chant and Responses During the Mass

In the Traditional Mass, Gregorian Chant is sung. Congregants meditate in silence while listening to the choir, though they may also sing along. Acolytes respond on behalf of the congregation during the Mass, but when phrases like “Amen” are to be said aloud, it is encouraged to join in.

1. Procession of the Priest and Servers

When the bell rings, the congregation stands. As the priest and servers process toward the altar, hymns such as the “Ave Maria” are sung.

2. Asperges

During the singing of “Asperges me” (or “Vidi aquam” during the Easter season), the priest sprinkles the congregation with holy water as a symbolic cleansing from venial sins.

3. Prayers at the Foot of the Altar

While the Introit is sung, the priest and acolytes recite the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar in alternation. The congregation stands, silently confessing their sins in preparation alongside the priest.

Note: The Introit, together with the other prayers and readings proper to the day, is provided with the Latin text and English translation on the page for the next Mass. The links in this guide lead to the corresponding parts of that page.

4. Beginning of the Mass

The Kyrie is sung as a plea for God’s mercy, with the congregation remaining standing. The priest ascends the steps of the altar and incenses it, praying that our prayers may rise to God like the smoke of the incense. After the Kyrie, the priest begins singing “Gloria in excelsis Deo” (Glory to God in the highest), and the Gloria, a hymn praising the glory of God, is sung. The congregation sits when the priest sits during the singing. The Gloria is omitted during penitential seasons (e.g., Lent).

After the Gloria, the congregation stands. The priest faces the congregation and says “Dominus vobiscum” (The Lord be with you), and the server responds “Et cum spiritu tuo” (And with your spirit). The priest then turns to the Missal and says “Oremus” (Let us pray), leading into the Collect, which is the Church’s prayer for the day. The server concludes the Collect with “Amen.”

The priest then reads the Epistle, and the congregation sits. At the end of the reading, the server says “Deo gratias” (Thanks be to God). In the Traditional Mass, there are typically two readings from Scripture (the Epistle and the Gospel).

After the readings, the Gradual and Alleluia (or Tract and Sequence during certain seasons) are sung. As the chanting concludes, the priest prepares the incense and prays at the center of the altar, ready to proclaim the Gospel.

The priest then moves to the left side of the altar, says “Dominus vobiscum,” and the congregation stands. The priest proclaims the Gospel, which directly recounts the words and deeds of Christ. After the Gospel, the priest moves to the pulpit to deliver the homily, and the congregation sits.

When the homily ends, the congregation stands. The priest returns to the center of the altar and begins the Creed, “Credo in unum Deum” (I believe in one God). The Creed is a solemn profession of faith in Christ’s words. During the phrase “Et incarnatus est” (And was incarnate), the congregation kneels. If the priest sits during the singing of the Creed, the congregation does as well.

5. Offertory

After the Creed, the priest faces the congregation and says “Dominus vobiscum” before calling “Oremus.” When the bell rings, the Offertory chant begins, and the congregation sits. The priest prays the Offertory prayers in a low voice, offering bread and wine to God. These prayers are said quietly to emphasize the sacred and mysterious nature of the moment and to allow the priest to concentrate on his service to the whole Church. In silent prayer, the congregation offers their own lives and daily actions to God, hoping that the sacrifice of the Mass will be accepted and that their prayers will reach God.

The priest again incenses the altar. The server incenses the congregation, who stand and bow their heads before sitting again.

At the end of the Offertory, the priest turns to the congregation and says “Orate, fratres” (Pray, brethren), and the server prays that God may accept the offerings. The priest then recites the Secret prayer quietly, which is the final prayer over the offerings. He concludes with “Per omnia saecula saeculorum” (Forever and ever), to which the server responds “Amen,” and the congregation stands.

The priest then recites prayers alternately with the server before chanting the Preface aloud. The priest prays that we may offer the Eucharist with deep devotion, united with the angels. As the bell rings, the Sanctus is sung. When the hymn ends, the congregation kneels.

6. Canon of the Mass and the Consecration

The Canon of the Mass is a prayer of thanksgiving and consecration, reaching its climax in the Consecration, where the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. The priest says all prayers quietly. He elevates the Host and the Chalice, and the congregation adores them in silence. In deep reverence and awe, the congregation watches this sacred mystery, offering thanks for the mercy and forgiveness granted to us, and prays for all people as members of the universal Church.

At the end of the Canon, the priest recalls that the offering was made through, with, and in Christ. When the bell rings and the priest says aloud “Per omnia saecula saeculorum,” the server responds with “Amen,” and the congregation stands.

7. Communion

The priest begins by chanting the Lord’s Prayer, the prayer our Savior Himself taught us. The congregation joins in by singing only the part, “Sed libera nos a malo” (“But deliver us from evil”). Following this, the priest prays quietly for peace, then says, “Per omnia saecula saeculorum”. He then chants, “Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum” (“May the peace of the Lord be always with you”) and proceeds to break the Host. The Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God”) is sung, proclaiming that Christ is the true Lamb sent to redeem our sins and pleading for God’s mercy and peace. When the hymn concludes, the faithful kneel.

The act of Communion signifies receiving Christ, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, and uniting with Him (Communio). At the center of the altar, the priest bows his head and recites three prayers in a low voice in preparation for Holy Communion. During this time, the congregation also prays for peace and the unity of the Church. The priest first receives both the Body and Blood of Christ. He then faces the congregation and, showing them the Host, proclaims, “Ecce Agnus Dei” (“Behold the Lamb of God”). This is the moment to pray for humility and to prepare to receive the Holy Eucharist worthily.

As the Communio chant is sung, Catholic faithful who wish to receive Communion form a line and kneel in a row in front of the altar rail. In the Traditional Latin Mass, the Host is received on the tongue. Open your mouth wide and rest your tongue lightly on your lower lip to make it easier to receive. Note that the communicants do not say “Amen” when receiving the Eucharist. Once you return to your pew, you may sit down.

After Communion is finished and the priest has purified the chalice, he turns to the congregation and says, “Dominus vobiscum”, at which point the congregation stands. The priest moves to the right side of the altar and recites the Postcommunion prayer. He then returns to the center, says “Dominus vobiscum” again, and chants, “Ite missa est” (“Go, the Mass is ended”). The server responds, “Deo gratias” (“Thanks be to God”), and the Mass comes to a conclusion. The priest then offers a final prayer in a low voice, facing the altar, and bestows a blessing upon the congregation. The faithful kneel, make the sign of the cross, and then stand up.

8. Last Gospel

As an act of thanksgiving after Mass, the priest moves to the left side of the altar and recites the Prologue of the Gospel of John. When the words “Et Verbum caro factum est” (“And the Word was made flesh”) are proclaimed, the congregation genuflects and then stands.

9. Recessional Procession

As the seasonal Marian hymn or other appropriate chants are sung, the priest and servers depart from the altar. This symbolizes the sending forth (Missio) of the faithful into the world.

For inquiries about the Traditional Latin Mass schedules or details, please contact Una Voce Japan. The office staff of the respective churches are not able to provide specific information. To receive updates on schedules and other notifications, please subscribe to our mailing list.

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In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too.

— Pope Benedict XVI

All photos included in this guide may not be reproduced without permission.

伝統ミサによる日曜日の歌ミサ参列の手引き

ミサの意味と伝統ミサ参列での心構え

ミサは十字架上のいけにえが永続する記念であると同時に、キリストのからだと血にあずかる聖なる会食です。伝統ミサでは全員が神に向かって同じ方向を向き、礼拝します。司祭はキリストの代わりにミサを司式し、参列者は神に感謝と賛美を捧げて参加します。

グレゴリオ聖歌とミサでの受け答え

伝統ミサではグレゴリオ聖歌を歌います。歌詞は主に聖書の章句が使用されています。参列者は聖歌隊が歌う聖歌を聴きながら黙想をしますが、歌うこともできます。また参列者を代表して侍者（司祭の手伝いをする奉仕者）がミサ中の受け答えをしますが、「Amen（そうなれかし）」など大声で唱える時、参列者も唱えることができます。

1. 司祭と侍者の入堂行列

ベルが鳴ると参列者は起立します。Ave Maria などの聖歌が歌われる中、司祭と侍者は祭壇に向かって進みます。

2. 灌水式

Asperges me（復活節は Vidi aquam）が歌われる中、司祭が聖水で小罪を洗い清めるため、参列者に聖水を振りかける儀式が行われます。

3. ミサの準備の祈り

入祭文（Introitus）が歌われる中、祭壇の下で、司祭と侍者はミサの準備の祈りを交互に唱えます。参列者は起立したまま、心の中で自分の罪を告白し、司祭と共に準備をします。

注：入祭文をはじめ、その日のミサに固有の祈りと聖書朗読箇所は、ラテン語原文と日本語訳を次回のミサのページに掲載しています。本文中のリンクから該当箇所へ移動できます。

4. ミサ前の部

神の憐れみを求める聖歌、キリエ（Kyrie）が歌われます。参列者の姿勢は起立のままです。祭壇の階段を昇った司祭は祭壇へ香炉をふり、私達の祈りが香の煙と共に神に届くように祈ります。

キリエが歌い終わると、司祭は祭壇中央で「Gloria in excelsis Deo（いと高き天においては、神に栄光あれ）」と歌い出し、グロリア（Gloria）が歌われます。グロリアは神の偉大さと栄光を称える聖歌です。司祭が歌の途中で座った場合は着席します。なお、グロリアは悔い改めの季節（例、四旬節）では省かれます。

グロリアの歌が終わると、参列者は起立します。司祭が参列者の方を向いて、「Dominus vobiscum（主はあなたたちとともに）」と唱え、侍者は「Et cum spiritu tuo（またあなたの霊と共に）」と答えます。司祭はミサ典書（ミサで使用する祈りや聖書朗読箇所を記した本）に向かい、「Oremus（祈りましょう）」と呼びかけ、集祷文を祈ります。これは教会全体の祈りで、侍者は集祷文の結びで「Amen」と答えます。

司祭は同じ位置で、ミサ典書に向かって聖書朗読を始めますので、参列者は着席します。朗読の終わりに侍者が「Deo gratias（神に感謝）」と唱えます。伝統ミサでは聖書朗読の回数は原則 2 回（この個所と聖福音）です。

聖書朗読が終わると、昇階唱（Graduale）とアレルヤ唱（Alleluia）という聖歌が歌われます（季節により詠唱（Tractus）や続唱（Sequentia）という聖歌も歌われます）。聖歌の終わりが近づくと司祭は祭壇に戻り、香炉を準備し、祭壇中央で聖福音をふさわしく朗読できるよう祈ります。

司祭が祭壇左側でミサ典書に向かい、「Dominus vobiscum」と唱えてから、参列者は起立します。司祭はミサ典書に向かって聖福音を朗読します。福音書はキリスト自身の言葉と行いを直接伝えています。聖福音の朗読が終わると、司祭は説教壇に移動し、説教を行います。参列者は着席します。

説教が終わると、参列者は起立します。司祭は祭壇中央に戻り、「Credo in unum Deum（私は唯一の神を信じる）」と歌い出し、信仰宣言クレド（Credo）が歌われます。キリストの御言葉への心からの承諾がクレドです。聖歌が「Et incarnatus est（受肉し給うた）」を歌う箇所でひざまずきます。司祭が歌の途中で座る場合は着席します。

5. 奉献の部

クレドが歌い終わると、司祭は参列者に向かって「Dominus vobiscum」と唱え、次に「Oremus」と呼びかけます。ベルが鳴ると、奉献文（Offertorium）の歌が始まります。参列者は着席します。司祭はパンとぶどう酒を神に捧げる奉献の祈りを小声で唱えます。小声での祈りは、神秘的な部分に特別な敬意と畏敬を示す目的や、司祭が全教会のために自分の奉仕に集中する目的があります。参列者は沈黙の中で祈り、自分自身の生活や日々の行いを神に捧げ、ミサの犠牲が神に受け入れられ、私達の祈りが神の前に届くことを願います。

司祭は祭壇に再び香炉を振ります。侍者が参列者に香炉を振るので、起立し頭を下げます。終わると着席ください。

奉献の部の終わりで、司祭は参列者の方を向いて「Orate, fratres（祈れ、兄弟たちよ）」と唱え、侍者は捧げものを神が受け入れて下さるよう祈ります。次いで司祭は密唱を小声で唱えます。密唱はささげものへの最後の祈りです。司祭は結びに「Per omnia saecula saeculorum（世々に至るまで）」と大声で唱えると、侍者は「Amen」と唱えて起立します。

司祭は祭壇中央で侍者と交互に祈りを唱えた後、序唱を大声で唱えます。司祭は私達が深い敬虔をもって、天使と一致して、聖体をささげうるようにと祈ります。次いで、ベルが鳴る中、サンクトゥス（Sanctus）が歌われます。歌が終わったら参列者はひざまずきます。

6. ミサのカノン（典文）と聖変化

ミサのカノンは感謝と聖別の祈りで、聖変化（パンとぶどう酒がキリストの体と血に変わる）で頂点に達します。司祭はすべての祈りを小声で唱えます。司祭はパンとカリスを高く挙げ、参列者はそれを仰ぎ見て礼拝します。参列者は沈黙の中で深い敬虔さと畏敬の念を持って神秘を見守り、私達に赦しと慈しみが注がれたことを感謝します。また教会全体の一員として、全ての人のために祈ります。

司祭はカノンの最後にキリストによって・とともに・のうちに、捧げられたことを記念します。ベルが鳴り、「Per omnia saecula saeculorum」と司祭が大声で唱えると、侍者は「Amen」と唱えて起立します。

7. 聖体拝領の部

司祭は救い主自身が私達に教えた主の祈りを歌います。参列者は「Sed libera nos a malo（悪より救い給え）」の部分だけを歌います。次いで、司祭は小声で平和を求める祈りを行い、「Per omnia saecula saeculorum」と唱えます。次いで「Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum（主の平和がいつもあなたがたともに）」と唱え、聖体をさきます。アニュス・デイ（Agnus Dei）が歌われます。この歌はキリストが私達の罪をあがなうために送られた真の子羊であることを宣言し、神の憐れみと平安を求めます。歌い終わったら参列者はひざまずきます。

聖体拝領とは聖体に現存されるキリストをいただき、キリストと一致する（Communio、交わり）ことです。司祭は祭壇中央で頭を下げて聖体拝領のための三つの祈りを小声で唱えます。参列者も平和と教会の一致のために祈ります。まず司祭が聖体と御血を拝領した後、参列者に向かって聖体を示しながら「Ecce Agnus Dei（みよ、神の子羊）」を唱えるので、ふさわしい心で聖体を拝領できるよう謙遜さを祈り求めましょう。

聖体拝領唱（Communio）が歌われる中、カトリック信者で聖体拝領する方は行列を作り、内陣前で横一列にひざまずいて並びます。伝統ミサでは聖体は舌の上で受けます。口を大きく開き、舌を下唇に軽くのせるようにすると拝領しやすいです。また聖体拝領時に、拝領者は「Amen」と唱えません。席に戻れば着席できます。

聖体拝領が終わり、司祭がカリスの浄めを終えると、参列者に向かい「Dominus vobiscum」と唱えるので、参列者は起立します。司祭は祭壇右側で聖体拝領後の祈りを唱え、祭壇中央に移動し、再度「Dominus vobiscum」と唱えた後に「Ite missa est（行け、ミサは終わった）」と歌い、侍者は「Deo gratias」と歌い答え、ミサは終わります。司祭は祭壇に向かって小声で最後の祈りを唱えた後、参列者のために祝福をします。参列者はひざまずき十字を切り、起立します。

8. 最後の福音書朗読

ミサ後の感謝の行いとして、司祭は祭壇左側でヨハネ福音書の序文を唱えます。朗読後半の「Et Verbum caro factum est（御言葉は肉体となり）」の箇所で片膝をつき、起立します。

9. 司祭と侍者の退堂行列

季節の聖母賛歌などが歌われる中、司祭と侍者は祭壇を離れて進みます。これは信者が世に派遣（Missio）されたことを象徴しています。

伝統ミサで使用させていただいている各教会の事務担当者はスケジュールなど詳細を答えることができないので、お問い合わせは Una Voce Japan までお願いします。スケジュール等の通知を希望される方はメーリングリストに登録下さい。

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典礼史には、成長や発展はあっても、決して断絶はありません。過去の人々にとって神聖だったものは、わたしたちにとっても神聖であり、偉大なものであり続けます。

— 教皇ベネディクト十六世

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