Episode 3149: The Mass of the Ages: The Mass of the Ages: Step-by-Step Commentary on the Traditional Mass - Part 4 - Canon to the Pater Noster

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"Saint Camillus de Lellis: A Heart on Fire"
Author: Luciana Frassati
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The Mass of the Ages: A Step-by-Step Commentary on the Traditional Latin Mass (Part IV)
Theme: From the Canon to the Pater Noster – The Tremendous Mystery of the Holy Sacrifice
Welcome back to our series "The Mass of the Ages: A Step-by-Step Commentary on the Traditional Latin Mass." Part IV, we dive into the Canon of the Mass the very heart of the Holy Sacrifice continuing through the Pater Noster, or the Lord’s Prayer.
This is the most sacred and solemn portion of the Traditional Latin Mass. It is where heaven and earth meet, where the once-for-all Sacrifice of Calvary is made present on our altars.
The Canon Missae: The Unchanging Heart of the Mass
The Canon begins with the words “Te igitur, clementissime Pater” – “Therefore, most merciful Father…” and from this point until the Great Amen, the priest speaks in a low, hushed tone. Why?
Because what takes place here is so sacred, so mystical, that the early Church Fathers deemed it unfit for the ears of the uninitiated. Even today, the Canon remains a moment of great awe and reverence. According to the Council of Trent, this portion of the Mass is handed down by apostolic tradition and has remained largely unchanged since at least the 4th century, possibly even earlier.
Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Ambrose speak of the Canon as something already fully formed in their time. And here, the priest acting in persona Christi no longer prays to God on behalf of the people with the people, but for the people and in a way that lifts us into the very action of the Cross.
Structure of the Canon
Let’s break down the Canon into its key elements:
1. The Te Igitur
The priest begs the Father to accept the oblation, offered by the Church on behalf of all her members, both living and dead. He mentions the Pope and the local bishop, signifying unity with the entire Catholic Church.
2. The Memento of the Living
The priest pauses in silence to remember by name those for whom the Mass is offered. Here, we are encouraged to spiritually unite our own intentions to the Holy Sacrifice.
3. The Communicantes
This beautiful prayer calls upon the intercession of Our Lady, Saint Joseph, and the twelve Apostles, along with early Roman martyrs like Saints Peter and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and more. We are reminded that the Mass is a communal act not only with those on earth but also with the saints in heaven.
"Per Christum Dominum nostrum"—through Christ our Lord.
Everything flows through Christ. The whole Canon is Christocentric.
4. The Hanc Igitur
This prayer asks God to bless and sanctify the offering, to accept it as He accepted Abel’s, Abraham’s, and Melchisedech’s sacrifices prefigurations of Christ’s own.
The Consecration: The Moment of Transubstantiation
The climax of the Canon is the Consecration, where the words of Christ at the Last Supper are spoken over the bread and wine.
• At the “Hoc est enim Corpus Meum”, the bread becomes the Body of Christ.
• At “Hic est enim Calix Sanguinis Mei…”, the wine becomes His Blood.
The priest genuflects twice, once after each Consecration, adoring Our Lord now truly present on the altar. The Sacred Host and Chalice are elevated in solemn reverence, often accompanied by bells.
This is the moment of transubstantiation not merely a symbol, but the true, real, and substantial presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Saint Thomas Aquinas reminds us that “The priest does not say, ‘This is the body of Christ,’ but, ‘This is My Body,’ as Christ Himself said.”
This moment transports us mystically to Calvary. The Mass is not a new sacrifice it is the same Sacrifice of the Cross, offered in an unbloody manner. Christ, our High Priest, offers Himself through the hands of His minister.
The Anamnesis, Oblation, and Intercessions
Following the Consecration, the priest offers the now Consecrated Victim to the Eternal Father.
• He prays for the dead in the Memento of the Dead, including the names of faithful departed.
• He asks that they, and all who rest in Christ, find a place of refreshment, light, and peace.
• Then the Nobis quoque peccatoribus prayer humbly includes ourselves, recognizing our unworthiness to share in the company of the saints but pleading for God’s mercy nonetheless.
Again, the priest genuflects, elevates the Sacred Host slightly, and concludes with the Minor Elevation: “Per ipsum, et cum ipso, et in ipso...” (Through Him, with Him, and in Him...), glorifying the Holy Trinity.
The server—or choir—responds with the Great Amen, affirming everything that has taken place.
The Pater Noster: The Lord’s Prayer
After the Canon, the priest recites the Pater Noster, the Our Father—alone. Only at the final words “sed libera nos a malo” (but deliver us from evil) does the server respond with “Amen.”
This again emphasizes the solemnity of the moment. It is the priest alone, offering the prayer of Christ to the Father as Christ’s representative.
Following this, the priest continues with the Libera Nos, asking for peace and deliverance from all evil, invoking the intercession of Our Lady and the saints.
The Pax Domini and Fractio Panis
The priest says, “Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum”—the peace of the Lord be always with you.
He then performs the Fractio, the breaking of the Host, symbolizing Christ’s Passion. The Agnus Dei is sung or recited, begging the Lamb of God for mercy and peace.
Preparation for Holy Communion
The priest strikes his breast three times, saying “Domine, non sum dignus…”—“Lord, I am not worthy…” echoing the words of the Roman centurion.
This triple repetition underscores our unworthiness and the humility necessary to receive Our Lord.
Then, the priest receives Holy Communion, receiving both the Body and the Blood of Christ under the species of bread alone. This act completes the Sacrifice: the priest, who offers the Victim, must also consume it.
To Be Continued…
In Part 5, we will continue with Holy Communion of the Faithful, the Postcommunion Prayers, and the Dismissal including the sublime beauty of the Last Gospel.
Closing Reflection
Let us never forget that the Traditional Latin Mass is not a man-made ceremony it is the liturgy developed under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, refined by saints and handed down through generations, from apostolic times to our own day. This is why it is called the Mass of the Ages.
Saint Padre Pio once said, “The world could exist more easily without the sun than without the Holy Mass.” Let us cherish this treasure and never grow indifferent to its mystery.
Today is July 18th, 2025, falling in the week after the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. In this episode, we’ll examine the Epistle and Gospel readings appointed for today, according to the traditional calendar, and reflect on the life of today's saint as listed in the 1945 St. Andrew Daily Missal.”
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Epistle: 1 John 3:13-18 (Douay-Rheims)
"Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not, abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself. In this we have known the charity of God: because He hath laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth."
Reflection on the Epistle:
St. John exhorts us to love not just in sentiment, but through sacrificial action. Charity, the queen of all virtues, is inseparable from the Catholic life. We cannot claim to be followers of Christ if we harbor hatred or fail to aid our brethren in need. This reading reminds us that true love manifests in the laying down of one’s life either literally or through daily self-denial and service to others. The world, as St. John says, will hate us for this love, because love rooted in truth convicts the heart and exposes sin. But the one who perseveres in charity abides in the life of grace.
Gospel: John 15:12-16 (Douay-Rheims)
"This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do the things that I command you. I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends: because all things, whatsoever I have heard of My Father, I have made known to you. You have not chosen Me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you."
Reflection on the Gospel:
Our Lord speaks directly and tenderly to His disciples. He commands love not as the world loves, but as He has loved. The Cross becomes the standard of true friendship and divine charity. Christ, who chose us first, lifts us from mere servants to beloved friends, if we follow His commandments. This Gospel invites us to contemplate our own call to bear fruit that remains. Are we willing to suffer in love? Are we cultivating that divine friendship that leads us into eternal life?
Saint of the Day: St. Camillus de Lellis, Confessor
According to the 1945 St. Andrew Daily Missal, St. Camillus de Lellis is commemorated today. Born in 1550, St. Camillus was a former soldier turned saint who, after a life of sin, repented and devoted himself to the care of the sick. He founded the Clerks Regular, Ministers to the Sick, and is a patron of the sick and of hospitals. Known for his heroic charity, St. Camillus personally cared for plague victims and battlefield wounded. His life echoes today’s readings a life poured out in sacrificial love for others.
Dear listeners, today’s Mass readings and the life of St. Camillus speak with one voice: Christian love is not sentiment it is sacrifice. Let us not be content with words of charity, but rather, with the acts of mercy and service that mirror Christ’s own love. Let us strive to become friends of God by obeying His commandments and imitating the saints who have gone before us.”
Concluding Prayer:
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, inflame our hearts with the fire of Thy divine charity. Teach us to love our brethren in truth and deed, not counting the cost, just as Thou didst lay down Thy life for us. Through the intercession of St. Camillus de Lellis, may we serve the suffering with joy and perseverance. Strengthen us to bear fruit that remains, and help us never to forget that we were chosen by Thee for a holy purpose. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
St. Camillus de Lellis, pray for us.
St. Joseph, Guardian of the Church, pray for us.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.