Sample Propers for the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist
Here are a few samples of the propers which accompany the Mass. The propers are the changeable parts of the service, the prayers and psalm-tidbits which set the theme for the day.
From the Temporale, the propers for the seasons of the year:
From the Sanctorale, the propers for Saints' days
- St. Columba, June 9
- St. Mary Hazel of Sleepy Hollow, September 1
From the Votive Masses, masses for special occasions
The First Sunday of St. Martin's Lent
Introit
Let everything that He has made praise the Name of the Lord;
for he commanded, and they were created.
He made them stand fast for ever and ever;
he gave them a law which shall not pass away. Ps. 148:5,6
Let everything that has breath
praise the Lord. Hallelujah! Ps. 150:6
Glory be. . . . Let everything. . . .
Collect
O heavenly Father, Creator of all things, Foundation of our being, who has filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, knowing you to be their source and rejoicing in your whole creation, we may this year learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gradual
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Give me the joy of your saving help again
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
I shall teach your ways to the wicked,
and sinners shall return to you. Ps. 51:11-14
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Preface
For you made known your own nature in the act of creation. By the word of your will you made a world for you to love. You spoke and spirits rose up to reflect the radiance of your glory. Praising you around your heavenly throne, they delight in your holiness and give you great honor.
Surrounded by angelic intelligences you created yet more. With a divine "Let there be," you brought forth the effulgence of your splendor and called it light. With what was spiritual you began to create the physical. In light we see your light and for the light we praise you and are in awe of your splendor.
The fountain of life yourself, you poured forth life-giving streams and called it water, the womb and sustenance of life to come. In water we see your fruitful ever-moving stillness and for the water we praise you and are in awe of your power.
Having established all things on the firm foundation of your own Godhead, you brought order to your creation and made the firm ground on which we stand. On you we stand and on the earth we stand and for the earth we praise you and are in awe of your strength.
Across the universe you flung stars and planets, each in its place and in its course, lights and patterns to mark the times and seasons. You set them all in order for you are the still point around which all creation revolves, and as the center of all things we praise you and are in awe of your universal rule.
From the earth you brought forth life that swims and flies and reaches for the sun; you made the animals that roam and crawl the earth and placed the germ of life in creatures which are miniscule miracles. As the handcrafter of life we praise you and are in awe of your energies.
You made man in your image and likeness. You formed us from the ground to love you and to be loved by you. Clay and dust though we are, you breathed into us your own breath and crowned us with powers and virtues. In our own human selves we see reflected your divine nature, and as the Father of us all we praise you and are in awe of you, our Creator, King, and Father.
You rested. You who are the source of all things are also their final end, and in your divine rest you recall us to our goal and eternal resting place. You whose energies propel the universe are ever still and unmoving, unchanging and perfect. As the changeless perfection we praise you and are in awe of your sabbath stillness.
Your divine energies fill the universe; your majesty and power are seen by all; your love and compassion give birth to beauty under every leaf and in the light of every star.
Memorial
In your infinite wisdom you have made the world and all its elements to show your glory. From all that you have created we bring to you now bread and wine, taken from the earth and transformed by the skill you have given us. As your Son took to himself our human nature, so you will take these earthly elements and transform them by the power of your Holy Spirit. And we shall be transformed by the Body and Blood of Christ our Lord.
Post-Communion
Almighty Father, in the Sacrifice of your Son for us you renewed us in your image. Through this Sacrament, give us grace that the image we bear may show forth with clarity, to your glory and honor for ever and ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
May the mercy of God the Father prepare your hearts to receive his Son.
AMEN.
May the love of God the Son prepare your hearts to receive the Holy Spirit.
AMEN.
May the power of God the Spirit prepare your hearts to return to God the Father.
AMEN.
Christmas Day: Mass during the day
Introit
Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above,
like gentle rains let the sky drop it down.
Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;
let justice also spring up! Is. 45:8
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things. Ps. 98:1
Glory be . . . . Let justice descend . . . .
Collect
All-powerful, eternal God, who have made this day bright by the Incarnation of your Son and his birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, as the chief cornerstone, has restored unity in place of discord between heaven and earth: Grant us in the joy of this solemn feast, that, as we rejoice to see him come to us in human form, we may be brought to union with the citizens of Heaven, over whom your Son has raised the body he took from our nature; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Gradual
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands;
lift up your voice, rejoice and sing. Ps. 98:4,5
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Creed
The Athanasian Creed is used.
Preface
Because you gave Jesus Christ, your only Son, to be born for us; who, by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, was made perfect Man of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother; so that we might be delivered from the bondage of sin, and receive power to become your children.
Memorial
In the fullness of time, you sent your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to be born of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Following her example, we present to you the things of earth, confident that through them Christ will be born anew for us.
Communicantes
celebrating that most holy day in which God, through a pure Virgin, gave the world its Savior,
Post-Communion
Almighty God, as you have this day bestowed upon us the gift of your Son, bestow upon us in this holy Communion the gift of eternal life with him who chose to share our earthly life with us: Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
May God the Father who spoke the eternal Word, speak his word in your heart.
Amen.
May God the Son, Word made flesh, fully God and fully human, speak God's word through you.
Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit, by whom the Savior was conceived, bring to birth the Incarnate Word in your souls.
Amen.
The feast of St. Columba, June 9
Introit
The Lord says:
I will give you shepherds after my own heart,
and they shall lead you with knowledge and understanding. Jer. 3:15
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the Lord's house,
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Ps. 116:16,17
Glory be. . . . The Lord says. . . .
Collect
O God, who by the preaching of your blessed Abbot Columba caused the light of the Gospel to shine on Iona and in Scotland: Grant that having his life and labors in remembrance, we may show forth our thankfulness to you by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Gradual
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there your hand will lead me
and your right hand hold me fast. Ps. 139:8,9
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Preface
For in every age you appoint guides for the faithful, leading them into lives of utter dedication to you. And now we bless your holy Name for your Abbot Columba and rejoice in his example as we join him in worshiping you.
Memorial
You take our gifts of bread and wine and change them by the grace of the Holy Spirit into the Body and Blood of your Son our Lord. And in the same miraculous fashion you take us sinful humans, offered to you on the altar of the Cross, transforming us by grace into the image and likeness of your Word our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Post-communion
O Lord, you have given us joy in the example of your abbot saint Columba: through his prayers and the grace of this communion we have received, strengthen and inspire us to live the Gospel life we profess; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The feast of St. Mary Hazel of Sleepy Hollow, September 1
Introit
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:1
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,
and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
until he show us his mercy. Ps. 123:2,3
Glory be. . . . The Lord is my shepherd. . . .
Collect
Almighty God, Who called your servant Mary Hazel from despondency and aloneness to the fellowship and love of the Church: Grant us, who delight in her presence and memory, the grace to be, with your saints, ever pilgrims, travelling always in faith, hope, and love; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Gradual
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my savior;
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Preface
And in the memory of St. Hazel we take joy, for she was one of us and yet a saint. In her love we have known your love, from her hands we have felt your touch; in her joy and courage we have seen an exuberance, in her sorrow and pain we have seen perseverance. For to us she is, O Three in One, a tribute to you, the God of life.
Memorial
For in your dearly beloved saint of Sleepy Hollow you have shown us to be a pilgrim people: While loving her fellows she kept her eyes fixed on heaven, and now a common lowly Christian reigns on high in your Kingdom.
Post-Communion
Heavenly Father, may this holy Communion which we have received make us ever mindful of the great cloud of witness which surrounds us, the saints and angels worshipping you for all eternity; so that, aided by their examples and prayers, and especially of your servant the saint Mary Hazel, we may come to dwell in that holy fellowship for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Joy in Creation
Introit
By the words of the Lord his works come into being
and all creation obeys his will.
He has embellished the magnificent works of his wisdom,
he is from everlasting to everlasting. Sirach 42:15,21
May the glory of the Lord endure for ever;
may the Lord rejoice in all his works.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will praise my God while I have my being. Ps. 104:32,34
Glory be. . . . By the words of the Lord. . . .
Collect
O heavenly Father, who has filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
or this:
Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexities of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Gradual
Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it,
the lands and those who dwell therein.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
and let the hills ring out their joy before the Lord,
when he comes to judge the earth. Ps. 98:8
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Preface
For you created all that is, and by your will they were created and have their being. You spoke and fire was kindled in the stars. You instructed them, and the galaxies began their dance. In your hands you formed our earth and set it in its course, running its appointed track faithfully around the sun. And in your love you formed our first ancestors from the dust of the earth and made us the rulers of creation. But we rebelled against you and disappointed your hope, made a mockery of your delight in us. Yet even so, you did not abandon us, but sent your Son, born of Mary, to give us hope and teach us to delight in you.
Memorial
When you acted to redeem the world, you chose your servants from the creation.
From the angels you chose Gabriel to announce the birth of your Son;
from humankind, Mary to be his mother;
from the heavens you chose the star to guide the Magi;
and from the earth, the waters of the Jordan to cleanse the world from sin.