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In liturgical use the term preface is a formal thanksgiving that immediately precedes (or forms part of) the
Canon Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the material accepted as officially written by an author or an ascribed author * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western canon, th ...
, Eucharistic Prayer, Prayer of Consecration or analogous portion of the
Eucharist The Eucharist ( ; from , ), also called Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament or the Lord's Supper, is a Christianity, Christian Rite (Christianity), rite, considered a sacrament in most churches and an Ordinance (Christianity), ordinance in ...
(
Holy Communion The Eucharist ( ; from , ), also called Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament or the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite, considered a sacrament in most churches and an ordinance in others. Christians believe that the rite was instituted by J ...
,
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or
Divine Liturgy Divine Liturgy () or Holy Liturgy is the usual name used in most Eastern Christian rites for the Eucharistic service. The Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Lutheranism, Eastern Lutheran Churches and the Eastern Orthodox Church believe the Divi ...
). The preface, which begins at the words, "It is very meet and just, right and salutary" (or a variation thereof) is ushered in, in all
liturgies Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a community, communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, ...
, with the '' Sursum corda'' ("Lift up your hearts") and ends with the ''
Sanctus The ''Sanctus'' (, "Holy") is a hymn in Christian liturgy. It may also be called the ''epinikios hymnos'' (, "Hymn of Victory") when referring to the Greek rendition and parts of it are sometimes called "Benedictus". ''Tersanctus'' (Latin: "Thr ...
'' ("Holy, Holy, Holy"). In most Western liturgies, proper prefaces are appointed for particular occasions. In the various Eastern liturgies there is great variation. Among those who follow the Rite of Constantinople the audible portion of the preface does not change, but the silent prayer said by the priest will differ depending upon whether it is the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom or the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. Among the
Oriental Orthodox Churches The Oriental Orthodox Churches are Eastern Christian churches adhering to Miaphysite Christology, with approximately 50 million members worldwide. The Oriental Orthodox Churches adhere to the Nicene Christian tradition. Oriental Orthodoxy is ...
the preface will take different forms, depending upon the
liturgical rite Rites (), liturgical rites, and ritual families within Christian liturgy refer to the families of liturgies, rituals, prayers, and other practices historically connected to a place, denomination, or group. Rites often interact with one another, ...
or the particular
feast day The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context does n ...
.


Anglican forms

In the 1662 ''Book of Common Prayer'', the preface omits the ''Dominus vobiscum'' ("The Lord be with you") and is in the form: :Priest: Lift up your hearts. :People: We lift them up unto the Lord. :Priest: Let us give thanks unto our Lord God. :People: It is meet and right so to do. :Priest: It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God. :(A proper preface may follow for certain occasions) :Priest: Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying: Then the
Sanctus The ''Sanctus'' (, "Holy") is a hymn in Christian liturgy. It may also be called the ''epinikios hymnos'' (, "Hymn of Victory") when referring to the Greek rendition and parts of it are sometimes called "Benedictus". ''Tersanctus'' (Latin: "Thr ...
is said or sung. In more modern orders of service, it is common for the ''Dominus vobiscum'' to introduce the ''Sursum corda''.


Methodist form

In
Methodism Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...
, the preface opens as follows, in accordance with the Book of Worship: :Elder: The Lord be with you. :People: And also with you. :Elder: Lift up your hearts. :People: We lift them up to the Lord. :Elder: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. :People: It is right to give our thanks and praise. (At this point, the Elder gives a proper preface)


Byzantine form

In the
Byzantine Rite The Byzantine Rite, also known as the Greek Rite or the Rite of Constantinople, is a liturgical rite that is identified with the wide range of cultural, devotional, and canonical practices that developed in the Eastern Christianity, Eastern Chri ...
, the preface opens with the following:


Lutheran forms

In
Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...
liturgies, the preface has many different translations that can be used in the Divine Service. The following is a common form: :Pastor: The Lord be with you. :People: And also with you. :Pastor: Lift up your hearts. :People: We lift them up to the Lord. :Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. :People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.


Roman Catholic form

In the
Roman Rite The Roman Rite () is the most common ritual family for performing the ecclesiastical services of the Latin Church, the largest of the ''sui iuris'' particular churches that comprise the Catholic Church. The Roman Rite governs Rite (Christianity) ...
, the preface opens with the following: :Priest: Dominus vobiscum. :People: Et cum spiritu tuo. :Priest: Sursum corda. :People: Habemus ad Dominum. :Priest: Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. :People: Dignum et justum est. The current English translation has: :Priest: The Lord be with you. :People: And with your spirit. :Priest: Lift up your hearts. :People: We lift them up to the Lord. :Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. :People: It is right and just. There are a wide variety of proper prefaces for every mass, depending on the missal used. As an example, a preface appointed for masses in the first Sunday in Advent is: :Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere: Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus: per Christum Dominum nostrum. :Qui, primo adventu in humilitate carnis assumptae, dispositionis antiquae munus implevit, nobisque salutis perpetuae tramitem reseravit: ut, cum secundo venerit in suae gloria maiestatis, manifesto demum munere capiamus, quod vigilantes nunc audemus exspectare promissum. :Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militia caelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes: In English: :It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. :For he assumed at his first coming the lowliness of human flesh, and so fulfilled the design you formed long ago, and opened for us the way to eternal salvation, that, when he comes again in glory and majesty and all is at last made manifest, we who watch for that day may inherit the great promise in which now we dare to hope. :And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim:


References

{{Byzantine Rite, collapsed Eucharist Latin religious words and phrases Catholic liturgy Christian liturgical texts Eastern Christian liturgies Anaphoras (liturgy) Byzantine Rite