The Mozarabic Rite Mass

(This is going to be one of those Catholic writing to Catholics post, because I figure mostly Catholics would be interested in the post. If you'd like to know more or don't know what the heck I'm talking about, message me)

Today I had the pleasure of attending a Hispanic-Mozarabic rite of the Catholic mass, held every day in the Toledo cathedral. It was really neat, and I was amazed both by how different and how similar it was to the Roman Rite. First, a little history. This rite was formalized in the 600s, when the Visigoths ruled Spain (and when I say Spain, it wasn't even close to what it is today), but similar forms were used for the first ten centuries in Spain. The rite was continued under Arabic rule. That's what Mozarabic means, those under Arabic rule that were not Arabic, but remained Christian. Pope Gregory XII eventually united the Christian kingdoms under the Roman rite (I believe this is the same Pope that united Gregorian chant, though I can't confirm without internet), and most of the areas in Spain converted to the new rite, save for those that were still under Arabic rule. Hence the name came into being. Even after the reconquest, the people wanted to keep their rite. A deal was struck, and within six parishes in Toledo, the people (and subsequent generations) of those who participated in the Mozarabic mass before the reconquest were allowed to continue celebrating in that fashion. The mass underwent several updates, and with Vatican II was restored to a purer form. It's also allowed to be celebrated anywhere it is appropriate, though I believe it is still only celebrated in Leon and Toledo. That is at least, what I gathered from the mass packet they gave me after I translated it from Spanish. Someone may want to read through it and double check my work.

The mass opened with a three member choir (probably priests or deacons) filing in behind us. They sat behind what almost looked like a cloister gate, though not a gate per say. It began with a chanted prayer, which I wish I had known wasn't in the booklet, because it was very nice and I would have liked to listen to it better. They were all wearing red and black capes- very Spanish looking. The chant went on for about ten minutes, and then the mass began.

I was surprised to see that it was ad populum. That could have been a later change I suppose, but the chapel we were in was about 500 years old (dedicated after the conquest of Toledo) and the altar was clearly designed for someone to be standing behind it, though I can't say for sure. I also noticed that both the priest's vestments and the altar were covered in a pink/purple color, and couldn't figure out why. (You might be able to guess. It turned out to be really obvious)

What was amazing about the structure of the mass was how similar everything was. Liturgy of the word- A reading from the prophets, a reading from the letters, and a reading from the Gospels. It was in a combination of Latin and Spanish, most of the spoken prayers in Latin, with the exception the response to the readings, which was "demos gracias a Dios" in Spanish. There was no psalm, but instead a Benediction. When we got to the homily, I realized why the colors were pink/purple-today was the first Sunday of Advent in the Mozarabic rite. Neat! (this means I can start playing holiday music, right?)

After the readings began the preparation of the offerings. (Again, all of this is chanted, and the congregation also chants in response. That took a while to get a hang of, since it wasn't the same note structure I've come to expect in Gregorian chant or during a Latin rite mass.) This section was definitely the most different. The offertory prayers were distinct from what we use now, although they still mentioned things like the Pope and his intentions, and the dead. What was really cool was the series of small litany-like prayers. One to a number of apostles and martyrs and one to confessors. All of them were ancient Saints, almost all either in the Bible or with super roman names. Ambrose, Fulgencio, Fructuoso, Eulalia, etc. This section ended with a prayer for the dead.

The sign of peace was very similar overall, though it began with a series of unique prayers, ended with a canticle, and in the middle we shook hands (la paz de Dios sea contigo, in Spanish).

The coolest part of the whole mass was the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It begins with similar prayers (justo y necesario, lo tenemos levantado hacia el Señor) but with a few added prayers. My favorite was the response "All our attention towards the Lord" before the aforementioned part.

The Santo came next, all the same except for the ending "hágios, hágios,, hágios, Kyrie o Theós" written in Greek on both the Latin and Spanish side of the booklet, so I don't have an exact translation of that one. The institution was much the same, which didn't surprise me, since most of it's a direct quote anyway. We didn't kneel but stood. In fact, we stood most of the time, with some sitting during the liturgy and a bit later on. No kneeling at all.

The Nicene Creed followed, the same we use today (makes sense, it was created before the rite was established). The coolest and most unique thing of the whole mass was the breaking of the Eucharist. It started with the priest chanting. Then, he broke the Eucharist into different pieces, forming a cross with them on the altar. All the pieces signified a different part of Christ's life; the incarnation, the birth, the circumcision, the transfiguration, the passion, the death, the resurrection, the gloria (if I had to translate that one I'd say ascension), and the reign of Christ in heaven, which he announced out loud. Nine points, seven of them in a cross, two to the right side of the cross. Before the mass, the priest asked how many people would be receiving Communion (which I only just barely understood and raised my hand in time). I think we were about nine, so we probably just made the cross. I assume they break it into nine pieces no matter what, and then the rest as needed.

Afterwards came the Our Father. While the text is the same, the whole congregation doesn't participate. Instead, the priest intones the lines of the Our Father, followed by 'amén' from the congregation. A similar prayer follows the Our Father, but without the traditional 'for yours is the kingdom, etc." (would you believe I can only remember the words to that in Spanish right now?) If I'm remembering correctly, this would have been a time when that was not said in the mass, though later became part of the mass again. I'm just guessing on that one, I really can't remember for sure. This is followed by a benediction, similar but longer than the one we currently use.

Finally, we get to Communion. There's a short canticle, the priest praying first and the congregation responding with "alleluia, alleluia, alleluia." This goes on during Communion. Communion is taken on the tongue, and both species are presented together. The priest dips the Body into the precious Blood, and then holds out a cloth as he gives you the Eucharist, to make sure none of the precious blood drips onto the ground. I really appreciated the care and reverence given to the Eucharist. There are a few closing prayers, then the mass ends.

While it was so different, with the mass being 98% chanted, the additional offertory prayers, the breaking of the Eucharist into the cross, and the different wording, it was definitely the mass. Most everything we said I recognized. The format was basically the same. And with the celebration of the Eucharist, the prayers for the dead, the recognition of the Saints and the blessed Virgin throughout the mass, it was 100% Catholic. One, holy, apostolic, and universal Catholic church. It was really neat to be able to participate in something 1400 years old and unique to Spain, but it was still part of that Holy Mass, instituted by Christ, and celebrated from then until now and into the future and for all eternity as a heavenly banquet. Qué guay, ¿no?