MISSAL
355
MISSAL
it may also happen that only a reference is given,
indicating that the larger portion of each Mass (some-
times everything except the collect) is to be sought in
the Common of Saints {Commune Sanctorum) , printed
at the conclusion of the Proprium Sanctorum (Proper
of Saints). This is supplemented by a certain
number of votive Masses, among the rest Masses for
the dead, and a collection of sets of collects, secrets,
and post-communions for special occasions. Here
also are inserted certain benedictions and other mis-
cellaneous matter, while appendixes of varying bulk
supply a number of Masses conceded for use in certain
present day, reproducing in substance the manuscript
forms of the latter part of the Middle Ages, has re-
sulted from the amalgamation of a number of separate
service books. In the early centuries, owing to the
lack of competent scribes, the scarcity of writing
materials, and various other causes, economy had
greatly to be studied in the production of books.
The book used by the priest at the altar for the prayers
of the Mass usually contained no more than it be-
longed to him to say. It was known commonly as a
" Sacramentary " (Sacramentarium) , because all its
contents centred round the great act of the consecra-
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localities or in certain religious orders, and arranged
according to the oriler of the calendar. To the whole
book is prefixed an elal)orate calendar and a sys-
tematized collection of ruljrics for the guidance of
priests in high and low Mass, as also prayers for the
private use of the celebrant in making his preparation
and thanksgiving. It may be mentioned here once
for all that the collection of rubrics now printed under
the respective headings " Rubricce generales Mis.salis",
" Ritus celebrandi Missam ", and " De Defectibus circa
Mis.sam occurrentibus" are founded upon a tractate
entitled "Ordo Missae" by ,John Burchard. master of
ceremonies to Innocent VIII and Alexander VI, at
the close of the fifteenth century. They are conse-
quently absent from the first printed edition of the
"Missale Romanum " (1474).
Origin of the Missal. — The printed Missal of the
tion of the sacrifice. On the other hand those portions
of the service which, like the Introit and the Gradual,
the Offertory and the Communion, were rendered by
the choir, were inscribed in a separate book, the " Anti-
phonarium Missa;" or "Graduale" (q. v.). So again
the passages to be read to the people by the deacons or
lectors in the amho (pulpit) — the Epistle and Gospel,
with lessons from the Old Testament on particular
occasions — were collected in the " Epistolarium " or
"Apostolus", the" Evangeliarium",and other lectiona-
ries(q. v.). Besides this an "Ordo" or " Directorium"
(q. V.) was required to determine the proper service.
Only by a slow process of development were the con-
tents of the sacramentary, the gradual, the various lec-
tionaries, and the " Ordo ' ' amalgamated so that all that
was needed for the celebration of Mass was to be
found within the covers'^ one volume. The first
