Ordinary (liturgy)

Part of the liturgy of some Christian denominations

Not to be confused with Ordinary (church officer) or Ordinal (liturgy).

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The ordinary, in Catholic and Lutheran liturgy, refers to the part of the Mass or of the canonical hours that is reasonably constant without regard to the date on which the service is performed.[1][2] It is contrasted with the proper, which is that part of these liturgies that varies according to the date, either representing an observance within the liturgical year, or of a particular saint or significant event, or to the common which contains those parts common to an entire category of saints such as apostles or martyrs.

The ordinary of both the Mass and the canonical hours does, however, admit minor variations following the seasons (such as the omission of "Alleluia" in Lent and its multiple additions in Eastertide). These two are the only liturgical celebrations in which a distinction is made between an ordinary and other parts. It is not made in the liturgy of the other sacraments or of blessings and other rites.

In connection with liturgy, the term "ordinary" may also refer to Ordinary Time – those parts of the liturgical year that are neither part of the Easter cycle of celebrations (Lent and Eastertide) nor of the Christmas cycle (Advent and Christmastide), periods until the Second Vatican Council and General Roman Calendar of 1969 were known as "Season after Epiphany" and "Season after Pentecost", respectively.[3]

Also, the term "ordinary liturgy" is used to refer to regular celebrations of Christian liturgy, excluding exceptional celebrations.[4]

## Mass

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The Mass ordinary (Latin: Ordinarium Missae), or Ordinary of the Mass, or the ordinarium parts of the Mass, is the generally invariable set of texts of the Mass according to Western Christian liturgical rites such as the Roman Rite and the Lutheran Rite.[1] This contrasts with the proper (proprium) which are items of the Mass that change with the feast or following the Liturgical Year. Ordinary of the Mass may refer to the ordinarium parts of the Mass or to the Order of Mass (which includes the proprium parts).

### I. Kyrie

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Further information: Kyrie § Kyrie as section of the Mass ordinary

Kyrie eleison ("Lord, have mercy") is the first section of the Mass ordinary.

### II. Gloria

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Further information: Gloria in Excelsis Deo § Gloria as section of the Mass ordinary

Gloria ("Glory to God in the highest"). The Gloria is reserved for Masses of Sundays, solemnities, and feasts, with the exception of Sundays within the penitential season of Lent (to which, before 1970, were added the Ember Days occurring four times a year, and the pre-Lenten season that began with Septuagesima), and the season of Advent (when it is held back as preparation for Christmas). It is omitted at weekday Masses (called ferias) and memorials, and at requiem and votive Masses, but is generally used also at ritual Masses celebrated on occasions such as the administration of another sacrament, a religious profession or the blessing of a church. On May 22, 2019, Pope Francis altered part of the Gloria in Italy, changing from "Peace on earth to people of goodwill" to "Peace on Earth to people beloved by God."[5] The changes, which were first approved by the General Assembly of the Episcopal Conference of Italy, are part of the third edition of the Roman Missal.[5][6]

### III. Credo

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Further information: Credo § Credo as section of the Mass ordinary

Credo ("I believe in one God"), the Nicene Creed, is said on Sundays and at major feasts. The Apostles' Creed may substitute for it during Lent and Easter and at children's Masses, but some countries have received permission to retain the Nicene Creed during the entire liturgical year.[7]

### IV. Sanctus

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Further information: Sanctus § Sanctus as section of the Mass ordinary

Sanctus ("Holy, Holy, Holy"), the second part of which, beginning with the word "Benedictus" ("Blessed is he"), was often sung separately after the Consecration if the setting was long.

### V. Agnus Dei

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Further information: Agnus Dei (liturgy)

Agnus Dei ("Lamb of God").

### VI. Ite, missa est

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See also: Ite, missa est and Benedicamus Domino

The phrase Ite, missa est ("Go, it is the dismissal", referring to the congregation) is the final part of the Ordinarium in the post-Tridentine Mass.

## Canonical hours

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The ordinary of the canonical hours consists chiefly of the psalter, an arrangement of the Psalms distributed over a week or a month. To the psalter are added canticles, hymns, and other prayers.

Traditionally the canonical hours were chanted by the participating clergy. Some texts of the canonical hours have been set to polyphonic music, in particular, the Benedictus, the Magnificat, and the Nunc dimittis.

## References

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1. ^ a b Webber, David Jay (1992). "Why is the Lutheran Church a Liturgical Church?". Bethany Lutheran College. Retrieved 16 July 2025. "The Lutheran Church is a liturgical church because it is an orthodox church. Its historic worship forms are thoroughly Biblical and evangelical in content, and therefore serve as faithful guides in orthodox Christian worship. The chief articles of Christian doctrine (the Trinity, the person and work of Christ, sin and grace, etc.) are deeply embedded in the unchanging parts of the Service (the Ordinary), and they become deeply embedded in the minds and hearts of Christian worshipers through the disciplined, weekly repetition of those texts. (The Ordinary of the Mass includes the Kyrie, Gloria in Excelsis, Nicene Creed, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei.)"
2. ^ "Ordinary of the Divine Office". breviary.net. Archived from the original on 2010-10-17. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
3. ^ "Ordinary Time". ChurchYear.net. Archived from the original on 2020-05-07. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
4. ^ Ottosen, Knud (1996). "Liturgy as a Theological Place". In Lillie, Eva Louise; Petersen, Nils Holger (eds.). Liturgy and the Arts in the Middle Ages: Studies in Honour of C. Clifford Flanigan. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 168. ISBN 87-7289-361-3. "Liturgy in the broad sense covers all that was said or sung or performed in church in the past. However, I speak of liturgy in a more restricted sense of the word, limiting myself to the ordinary liturgy, such as the Liturgy of the Mass, the Rituals and the Liturgy of Hours [emphasis added]."
5. ^ a b "Pope Francis Approves Changes to Lord's Prayer & Gloria of Italian Missal". uCatholic. 2019-06-03. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
6. ^ "Francis Approves Revised Translation of Italian Missal". La Croix International. 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
7. ^ McNamara, Edward. "Substituting for the Creed | EWTN". EWTN Global Catholic Television Network. Retrieved 2023-10-04.

## External links

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* The Liturgy of Holy Communion (Part 2) - Trinity San Antonio Lutheran Church

* v
* t
* e

Mass of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church

Forms and uses|

* Pre-Tridentine Mass
* Tridentine Mass
* After the Second Vatican Council
* Mass of Paul VI (Ordinary Form)
* Zaire Use
* Anglican Use

| Orders|

* Benedictine Rite
* Carmelite Rite
* Carthusian Rite
* Cistercian Rite
* Dominican Rite
* Norbertine Rite

|

Types|

* Low Mass
* Missa Cantata
* Solemn Mass
* Pontifical High Mass
* Papal Mass
* sine populo
* Votive Mass

| Ritual Masses|

* Blue Mass
* Chapter and Conventual Mass
* Coronation Mass
* Nuptial Mass
* Red Mass
* Requiem Mass
* Month's mind

|

Language|

* Liturgical use of Latin
* Ecclesiastical Latin
* Vernacular

Order of Mass|

| Pre-Mass|

* Vesting prayers
* Asperges me
* Vidi aquam in Eastertide
* Processional hymn

|

Liturgy of
the Word|

* Sign of the Cross
* Psalm 43
* Entrance Antiphon
* Penitential Act
* Confiteor / Kyrie
* Gloria
* Dominus vobiscum
* Collect
* Oremus
* Responsorial Psalm or Gradual
* Epistle
* Alleluia
* Tract / sequence
* Gospel
* Homily
* Credo
* Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed or Apostles' Creed
* Universal Prayer

Liturgy of
the Eucharist|

* Offertory
* Orate fratres / prayer over the gifts
* Preface
* Sursum corda / Sanctus / Hosanna
* Eucharistic Prayer/Canon of the Mass
* oblation / epiclesis / Words of Institution / elevation / anamnesis
* texts and rubrics
* Canonical digits
* Roman Canon
* history
* Memorial Acclamation
* Lord's Prayer
* embolism / doxology
* Pax
* Sign of peace
* Agnus Dei
* Dona nobis pacem
* Fraction
* Holy Communion
* Communion antiphon
* Ablutions
* Postcommunion
* Dismissal
* Ite, missa est / Benedicamus Domino
* Last Gospel

Post-Mass|

* Leonine Prayers
* Recessional hymn

Participants|

* Acolyte
* Altar server
* female
* Bishop
* Boat boy
* Cantor
* Choir
* Crucifer
* Deacon
* Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion
* Laity
* Eucharistic Congress
* Lector
* Porter
* Priest
* Subdeacon
* Usher

Altar|

* Altar crucifix
* Altar rails
* Ambo
* Antependium
* Candles and candlesticks
* Triple candlestick
* Paschal candle
* Sanctuary lamp
* Chalice veil
* Communion bench
* Corporal
* Credence table
* Kneeler
* Lavabo
* Misericord
* Pall
* Piscina
* Purificator
* Rood
* Tabernacle

Liturgical
objects|

* Altar bell
* Ashes
* Aspergillum
* Bugia
* Censer
* Chalice
* Ciborium
* Crotalus
* Collection basket
* Communion-plate
* Cruet
* Evangeliary
* Fistula
* Flabellum
* Funghellino
* Holy water
* Incense
* use
* Manuterge
* Paten
* Processional cross
* Pyx
* Sacramental bread
* wafer
* Sacramental wine (or must)
* Thurible

Liturgical books|

* Antiphonary
* Ceremonial of Bishops
* Customary
* Roman Gradual
* Graduale Simplex
* Roman Missal
* Divine Worship: The Missal
* Sacramentary and Lectionary
* Roman Pontifical
* Tonary

Vestments

* Alb
* Amice
* Chasuble
* Dalmatic
* Episcopal gloves
* Episcopal sandals
* Humeral veil
* Pallium
* Pontifical
* Stole
* Surplice
* Tunicle
* Vimpa

Liturgical year|

| Calendars|

* Tridentine calendar
* General Roman Calendar of 1954
* General Roman Calendar of Pope Pius XII
* General Roman Calendar of 1960
* General Roman Calendar (current)

|

Periods|

* Advent
* Christmastide
* Ordinary Time
* Septuagesima
* Lent
* Passiontide
* Holy Week
* Paschal Triduum
* Eastertide
* Ascensiontide

Eucharistic
discipline|

* Abstemius
* Concelebration
* Church etiquette
* Closed communion
* Canon 844
* Canon 915
* Communion and the developmentally disabled
* Communion under both kinds
* Eucharistic fast
* First Communion
* Frequent Communion
* Genuflection
* Head cover
* Host desecration
* Infant communion
* Intinction
* Reserved sacrament
* Sacramental bread and wine (or must)
* Spiritual communion
* Thanksgiving after Communion
* Anima Christi
* Viaticum

Eucharistic
theology|

* Body and Blood of Christ
* Corpus Christi
* Epiousion
* Grace ex opere operato
* In persona Christi
* Historical roots of Catholic Eucharistic theology
* Koinonia
* Liturgical colours
* Mirae caritatis
* Mysterium fidei (encyclical)
* Origin of the Eucharist
* Last Supper
* Passion of Jesus and its salvific nature
* Priesthood of Melchizedek
* Real presence
* Transubstantiation
* Year of the Eucharist

Regulations
and concepts|

* Accentus
* Ad orientem and versus populum
* Calendar of saints
* Canon law
* Code of Rubrics
* Commemoration
* General Instruction of the Roman Missal
* Holy day of obligation
* Intercession of saints
* Ordinary and Propers
* Pro multis
* Sunday
* Lord's Day

Related|

* Agape feast
* Anaphora of the Apostolic Tradition
* Ambrosian Rite
* Catholic theology
* Christian liturgy
* Catholic liturgy
* Eastern Catholic liturgy
* Christian prayer
* effects of prayer
* Dicastery for Divine Worship
* Council of Trent
* Ecclesia de Eucharistia
* Eucharistic adoration and benediction
* Dominicae Cenae / Holy Hour
* Eucharistic miracle
* Fermentum
* Fourth Council of the Lateran
* Gelineau psalmody
* Gregorian chant
* History of the Roman Canon
* Lex orandi, lex credendi
* Liturgical Movement
* Liturgical reforms of Pope Pius XII
* Mediator Dei
* Missale Romanum (apostolic constitution)
* Music
* Pope Paul VI
* Sacraments of the Catholic Church
* Second Vatican Council
* Sacrosanctum concilium
* Summorum Pontificum
* Traditionis custodes
* Stercoranism
* Tra le sollecitudini

* v
* t
* e

Order of the Divine Service in Lutheranism

Preparatory Service|

* Entrance hymn and Trinitarian formula (known as the Invocation)
* Penitential Act including the Confiteor and Declaration of Grace (or Asperges on Easter)

The Service of the Word|

* Introit
* Gloria Patri
* Kýrie
* Gloria
* Dominus vobiscum
* Oremus
* Collect
* Old Testament reading
* gradual (or Responsorial Psalm)
* Epistle
* Alleluia (tract during Lent)
* Gospel
* Hymn of the day
* Homily or Postil (Sermon)
* Nicene Creed (Athanasian Creed on Trinity Sunday)
* Offertory
* Prayers of the Faithful

The Service of the Eucharist|

* Preface (Sursum corda / Sanctus / Hosanna)
* Eucharistic Prayer (Epiclesis / Words of Institution / Memorial Acclamation)
* Lord's Prayer
* Sign of peace / pax (elevation)
* Agnus Dei
* Distribution
* Nunc dimittis
* Postcommunion
* Benedicamus Domino
* Benediction
* Dismissal
* Ite, missa est

Participants|

* Acolyte
* bishop
* cantor
* choir
* crucifer
* deacon
* elder
* laity
* lector
* Pastor (or Priest)
* usher

Parts of the Sanctuary|

* altar
* altar bell
* altar crucifix
* altar rail
* kneeler
* piscina
* processional cross
* tabernacle

Candles|

* altar candle
* paschal candle
* sanctuary lamp
* votive candle

Liturgical vessels|

* ciborium
* chalice
* cruet

Liturgical objects|

* collection basket
* holy water
* incense (use)
* paten
* sacramental bread (wafer)
* sacramental wine
* thurible

Vestments|

* alb
* chasuble
* dalmatic
* geneva gown
* humeral veil
* stole
* surplice
* tunicle

Liturgical books and hymnals|

* Christian Worship (1993)
* Christian Worship (2021)
* Common Service Book (1917)
* Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (1912)
* Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (1996)
* Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006)
* Lutheran Book of Worship (1978)
* The Lutheran Hymnal (1941)
* Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement (1989)
* Lutheran Service Book (2006)
* Lutheran Worship (1982)
* ReClaim Hymnal (2006)
* Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* 2
* United States
* France
* BnF data

Other|

* IdRef

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