Ite Missa Est

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This is the versicle chanted in theRoman Rite by thedeacon at the end of Mass, after the Post-Communions. It is our formula of the old dismissal (apolysis) still contained in allliturgies. It is undoubtedly one of the most ancient Roman formulæ, as may be seen from its archaic and difficult form. All the three oldest Roman Ordines contain it. "Ordo Rom. I" says: "When theprayer [Post-Communion] is over, that one of thedeacons appointed by thearchdeacon looks towards the pontiff to receive a sign from him and then says to the people:Ite missa est. They answer:Deo gratias (ed. Atchley, London, 1905, p. 144. See also "Ordo Rom. II", 15; "Ordo Rom. III", 18). Themedieval commentators were much exercised to explain the meaning of the strange expression. Durandus (Rationale, IV, 57) suggests several interpretations. It has been thought that a word is omitted:Ite, missa est finita; orest is taken absolutely, as meaning "exists", is now an accomplished fact". The real explanation seems to lie rather in interpreting correctly the wordmissa. Before it became the technical name of the holy Liturgy in theRoman Rite, it meant simply "dismissal". The formmissa formissio is like that ofcollecta (forcollectio),ascensa (ascensio), etc. SoIte missa est should be translated "Go it is the dismissal." (SeeFlorus the Deacon, "De expositione Missæ", P.L., CIX, 72.) On certain days which have the character offasting or penance, this versicle is replaced by the wordsBenedicamus Domino. The fact is noticed bymedievalliturgists (e.g., Durandus, IV, 57 — cf. "Micrologus", xxxiv; etc.) since about the eleventh century. The three Roman Ordines before the tenth centuryknow only the formIte missa est. The explanation is that originally the people were not dismissed on such days, but stayed in church for furtherprayers after Mass, suitable tofasting days (soBona, "Rerum liturg. libri duo", II, xx, n.3). This is confirmed by a now extinctmedieval custom of singingBenedicamus Domino at the end of midnight Mass atChristmas, becauseLauds follow at once (Durandus, op. cit., IV, 57, §7). So theidea obtained thatIte missa est implies a festal Mass. Our present rule that it follows theGloria in Excelsis (and therefore theTe Deum in the Office) is noted in "Micrologus" (xlvi). Either versicle was always answered by the obvious responseDeo gratias, implying thanks that the Sacrifice has been offered — is now complete. At Requiems (since they have no Gloria)Ite missa est is not said. In this case the versicle isRequiescant in pace. The response isAmen. John Beleth (twelfth century) says that this arose "only from a general custom" ("Rat. div. offic." in P.L., CCII, 49). Till about the twelfth century theIte missa est really ended the liturgy, as its form implies. In the First Roman Ordo, immediately after it the text continues: "Then the seven candlesticks are carried before the pontiff . . . to thesacristy" (ed. Atchley, p. 146). It was not till the sixteenth century (Missal ofPius V) that the accretions to the Mass that had gradually been introduced (Placeat, blessing, last Gospel — all originally privateprayers) were definitely recognised as part of the liturgy to be said at the altar.

The corresponding dismissals in the other Western rites are: atMilan, V. "Procedamus in pace." R. "In nomine Christi"; Mozarabic, "Solemnia completa sunt in nomine D. N. I. C: votum nostrum sit acceptum cum pace." R."Deo gratias" ("Missale Mixtum", P.L., LXXXV, 120). Of the Eastern rites that of the "Apostolic Constitutions" dismisses the people with the form: "Go in peace" (Brightman, "Eastern Liturgies", p. 27). The Antiochene and Byzantine Liturgies end with thedeacon's announcement: "Let us go forth in peace." R. "In the name of the Lord"; and then a short "prayer of dismissal" said by the celebrant (op. cit., 67, 397); so also the Alexandrine Rite (ibid., 142): while theNestorians have only aprayer and blessing by the celebrant (ibid., 303).

Present ritual

At high Mass, as soon as the last Post-Communion is ended, the celebrant andministers go to the middle of the altar and stand in line. The celebrant turning to the people singsDominus vobiscum (the usual introduction to any announcement), and remains facing them. When the choir has answered, thedeacon turns round and, with hands joined, singsIte missa est to its proper tone, the choir answeringDeo gratias to the same notes. In the formerMissal ten melodies were provided for various solemnities. Theidea is to sing this last versicle to the tone of the firstKyrie eleison, so that Mass ends with the same chant as that with which it began. To carry this out more completely the new VaticanMissal provides nineteen tones, most of them very elaborate (forIte missa est andBenedicamus Domino), corresponding to the various masses in the Kyriale". The tone of the first Kyrie should always be used. In figured masses theIte missa est should be sung to the tone of the plain-song mass provided for the occasion. FromHoly Saturday till White Saturday (Sabbatum in albis), inclusively, twoAlleluias are added to both versicle and response; in this case they have a special melody (the first in theMissal), which does not correspond to the Kyrie. At Masses that have noGloria in excelsis (therefore in the Officede tempore ofAdvent andLent, vigils, and ember-days, exceptMaundy Thursday andHoly Saturday; at Votive Masses, except those of the B.V.M. when celebrated on Saturday, Votive Masses ofAngels, and, for a grave cause, when violet vestments are not used in the Mass — "Rubr. Gen." of theMissal, viii, 4) the celebrant turns back to the altar after theDominus vobiscum, and thedeacon, facing the altar, sings,Benedicamus Domino, to the same tone (of the Kyrie); the answer is the same,Deo gratias. At all Requiems in the same manner he sings, to the tone provided in theMissal.Requiescant in pace (in the plural, even when Mass is said for oneperson — S. R. C., 22 Jan., 1678). R.Amen. As soon as thedeacon has finished his versicle the celebrant turns back to the altar and waits; thedeacon andsubdeacon kneel on thesuppedaneum. When the answer of the choir is finished the celebrant says theprayerPlaceat and then gives the blessing. The celebrant himself saysBenedicamus Domino orRequiescant in pace in a low voice while thedeacon sings, because these areprayers. He does not sayIte missa est, because this is an announcement to the people. At a sung Mass the celebrant sings thedeacon's part, at a lowMass he says it. Otherwise there is no change.

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