Sanctus: Praying with the Angels

The main point of this post is this: In the Mass, we join the angels in proclaiming Christ's coming.

The Mass is divided into two parts: the Liturgy of the Word, focused on readings from Scripture; and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, focused on the re-presentation of Christ's Sacrifice for our sins which was made "once for all."

Near the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest invites us to pray a very old prayer: the Sanctus.  In his invitation, the priest says "and so with all the choirs of angels and saints, we join their unending hymn of praise."  After that, we respond with "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Hosts.  Heaven and Earth are full of your glory; Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."

These words are the words of the angels, which we now take as part of our own prayer.  In the  Book of Isaiah, chapter 6, the Seraphim (the highest angels) sing in the court of Heaven "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts!" (v. 3).   The angels sing this song perpetually: "one to the other" (cont. v. 3).  And they sing as the prophet Issiah is called to prophetic ministry, and sent out to the people of Israel: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying 'Whom shall I send?  Who will go for us?' 'Here I am;' I said; 'send me!'" (v. 8-9).  After this comes an ancient prophecy of Christ's coming: "the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel" (7:14).

Just as the Seraphim in Heaven perpetually sing the Santus, proclaiming the Lord's coming and reign outside of time - we too, proclaim His coming and reign in time.  In the Mass, Heaven and Earth unite and sing in unison the praises of God, our Lord and Father.  The Sanctus, then, is a moment in time where we experience a bit of the eternal; it is Sacred Time.

"Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord." Amen.