How to Pray a “Dry Mass” (Missa Sicca)
In 2020, many Catholics struggled because they no longer had the Mass available to them, during the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020.
Enter the Dry Mass.
I learned about a devotion called a “Dry Mass” or “Missa Sicca”, from Seth Ball, at CalltoTradition.com.
Let’s take a look at this Dry Mass and how it might be helpful, even outside of any lockdowns.
First Things First: the “Dry Mass” is not a Mass
Let me stress: IT IS NOT A MASS.
It is a devotion.
A Dry Mass, or Missa Sicca,
… was a form of Catholic devotion used in the medieval Catholic Church when a full Mass could not be said, such as for funerals or marriages which were served in the afternoon after a priest had already said Mass earlier that morning. It consisted of all components the Mass except the Offertory, Consecration and Communion.”
The Rationale Divinorum Officiorum: The Foundational Symbolism of the Early Church
So anytime you are not able to get to a Mass, as during the 2020 pandemic, but even if you are sick, you can avail yourself of this devotion.
I find the Dry Mass to be a beautiful devotion. Maybe you will too.
Pray the Dry Mass (Missa Sicca)
Make the Sign of the Cross:
In the name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Entrance Antiphon
Hail, Holy Mother!
The Child to Whom you gave birth is the King of Heaven and Earth. The King shall desire your beauty, for He is your Lord, and you must worship Him (Ps. 44:11).
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, amen. Hail, Holy Mother! The Child to Whom you gave birth is the King of Heaven and Earth. The King shall desire your beauty, for He is your Lord, and you must worship him.
The Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed (strike breast three times): through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the saints, to pray to the Lord Our God for me.
+ May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to life everlasting. Amen.
The Kyrie
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Gloria
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You, we give You thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, Heavenly King, O God, Almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Prayer
Let us pray. God our Father, You give joy to the world by the incarnation of Your Son. May we welcome Jesus into our hearts with that same love which Mary loved Him, for He lives and reigns …
Reading
(Read a selection from Scripture (Old or New testament)
Alleluia (omitted during Lent)
Gospel
(Read a selection from any Gospel)
The Nicene Creed
Preface
Let us pray. 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 Jesus Christ our Lord. For out of compassion for the waywardness that is ours, He humbled Himself and was born of the Virgin; by the passion of the Cross He freed us from unending death, and by rising from the dead He gave us life eternal. And so, with angels and archangels, with thrones and dominions and with all the host and powers of Heaven, we sing the hymn of Your glory, as without end we acclaim:
The Sanctus
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and Earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Invocation of the Saints
Almighty God, may our prayers be joined to the intercession of the glorious every virgin Mary Mother of God; also of the blessed Joseph, her spouse, and likewise of your blessed Apostles and martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus, Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, of all thy saints.
Grant for the sake of their merits and prayers in all things we may be guarded and helped by Your protection. + Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for the Living
Be mindful, O Lord, of N… our Pope, N… our Bishop, N… our Priest, Your servants and handmaids N… and N…, and of those entrusted to my care, for whom this sacrifice of praise is offered, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered by Your ordained priests throughout the world. Grant, O Lord, the redemption of their souls and the hope of their safety and salvation.
Prayer for the Dead
Be mindful, also, O Lord, of Your servants and handmaids N… and N… who are gone before us with the sign of faith and who sleep the sleep of peace. To these, O Lord, and to all who rest in Christ, grant, we beseech You, a place of refreshment, light and peace. + Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Eternal Happiness
To us also Your sinful servants, who put our trust in the multitude of Your mercies, vouchsafe to grant some part and fellowship with Your holy Apostles and martyrs: with John, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicitas, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, and all your saints. Into their company we beseech You admit us, not considering our merits, but freely pardoning our offenses. + Through Christ Our Lord. Amen
Our Father
Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
The Last Gospel (John 1:1–14)
Hail Mary
In the name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
More About the Mass of Ages
- The Merit of the Mass, by Fr Ripperger (article)
- Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within by Taylor Marshall
- The Rationale Divinorum Officiorum: The Foundational Symbolism of the Early Church
How to Follow the Latin Mass
- The Latin Mass Explained
- Latin-English Booklet Missal For Praying The Traditional Mass
- Angelus Press Roman Catholic Daily Missal
- The Asperges Rite in the Traditional Latin Mass (article)
