The Liturgy Corner - The Dialogue of the Mass: Part 8 "sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus"

The next moment of vocal participation by the congregation is the “Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus” (Holy, Holy, Holy), which will be henceforch referred to as the ‘Sanctus’. To understand the full import of this mini-hymn, we need to look at the end of the preface, which comes directly before singing the Sanctus.

The Preface is simultaneously a prayer to God and an invitation to the congregation. We can see the combination of these two purposes most distinctly at the end. Although each preface is different (they change based upon the season or feast), the end of each has a certain formula to it. Let us look at, for example, the end of Preface Option 1 of Lent.

“And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory as without end we acclaim.”

Let's look at the origins of the Sanctus. Most of us probably have recognized the echo of Scripture in this hymn. ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest’ comes from the Matthew 21:9. It is the main portion of what the people sing as they praise and welcome Jesus to Jerusalem. We can see the intended connection here, as we are praising and welcoming Christ in the consecration, where he will become present in the Eucharist. But even the people in Matthew 21 were, in turn, quoting Old Testament Scripture, namely Psalm 118:26.

More important to us is the Scripture origin of the other portion. There are two times in Scripture where a vision of the heavens reveals the Angels singing, “Holy Holy Holy.” The first is in Isaiah 6:3, "Holy Holy Holy, Lord God of Hosts, the earth is full of your glory.” The second is in Revelation 4:8, “Holy Holy Holy, Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come.” We should acknowledge a couple really important things. First, in Jewish culture, the use of an adjective three times meant that it was a superlative. So, think of this phrase as saying, “Holiest,” or the perfection of Holiness. Second, these are visions of heaven. In the nativity story, the angels descend and sing, “Glory to God in the highest…” which is now the origin of the Gloria in the Mass. However, the angels sing the Sanctus in heaven, in their natural, eternal habitat, so to speak. Moreover, we have two separate visions of heaven showing them singing this song. What does that mean? Well, the surrounding details make it clear: these visions are meant to represent the eternal song of the angels. The joy of their very existence is to, “…day and night…never stop saying…” this hymn of God’s praise (Rev. 4:8). We see in the rest of the book of Revelation that the angels are joined by the saints in one eternal heavenly choir.

So, what does this mean for our little hymn we sing every time we come to Mass? Well, it all goes back to the mystical reality of the Mass. The Catechism says so much on this, but I will limit myself to two short lines.

Liturgy is an "action" of the whole Christ (Christus totus). Those who even now celebrate it without signs are already in the heavenly liturgy, where celebration is wholly communion and feast.

It is in this eternal liturgy that the Spirit and the Church enable us to participate whenever we celebrate the mystery of salvation in the sacraments. CCC 1136, 1139

Every time we celebrate the Mass (and other Sacraments), we are joining an eternal event with Christ as high-priest and all the angels and Saints as participants. In the Mass, the uniting of divine and human, spiritual and physical, heaven and earth in the incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ happens right now. Our Liturgy is really the one Liturgy. Our Mass is the ONE Mass. Though we cannot see it, the barrier between heaven and earth is rent open and our congregation of a few hundred becomes thousands upon thousands of angels and saints joined together in a single choir, singing “Holy Holy Holy, Lord God of Hosts!”

Let’s just…..just take a moment to appreciate this…..

As a side note, but somewhat related, I highly recommend you go on youtube and watch a short film called, “The Veil Removed.”