liturgy, liturgical books, sacramentarium

Pope Orban II 1
Saint bishop of the Sopronbánfalva church
Graduale
Lectionarium with initials 2
Gospels 1
Service book from Zagreb
Liturgy

A Greek word (its original meaning was 'public service for the people') referring to all the religious ceremonies of the Christian church, but first of all it means the public service, the mass and the office. Catholic liturgy became firm from the 9th century, but smaller differences can appear later in the different territories (church counties), in different ages and in case of different orders.

SzK


liturgical books

Different types of books used during the service - mass, office. In the age of ancient Christianity they were selected copies of the Bible, later with the differentiation of roles (celebrant, reader, cantor...etc.) these were transformed into respective book types. The most important books belonging to the mass are the Sacramentarium (the main prayers of the celebrating priest), the Lectionarium and Evangelarium (readings and the gospels), the Graduale (the changing songs completed with permanent movements - Kyrie, Gloria...etc.) then after the turn of the millenium the Missale, which contained all the parts (= mass-book, the version completed with musical notation was the Missale Notatum).

First of all a Psalterium (book of pslams) was needed for an office. This was completed by the Hymnarium (hymns), while songs framing the psalms and the songs between readings (antiphonies and responsories) could be found in the Antiphonale. The prayers of the celebrating priest were in the Capitulare, the readings were taken from the Lectionarium Officii. After the turn of the millenium all the parts were put into one book called the Brevarium (with notes: Brevarium Notatum).

MJ


Sacramentarium

A liturgic codex, which contains the permanent and changing prayers of Latin liturgy. It was badly needed from the 5th century, since prayers were rewritten many times from that time on. The sacramentarium is the forerunner of 13th century mass- or service-books.

SzK