08/11/2023
Did you know that the English Translation of the Roman Missal contains a mass setting which is meant to be standard across the English-speaking world?
This collection of chants was referred to by Pope Paul VI as the “Missa Simplex”, and in 1974 he sent copies of it in a little book called “Jubilate Deo” to every bishop in the world.
The Missa Simplex comprises of a collection of chants from various mass settings in the Roman Gradual (Kyrie XVI, Gloria XV, Sanctus XVIII and Agnus Dei XVIII). Paul VI wanted the world to be able to sing at least these basic chants at Holy Mass with ease.
When the 2002 Roman Missal was translated into English in 2010, the International Commission on English in the Liturgy set the translation to this Mass. Now, if you open any Roman Missal, you will find it there.
Here is an example of the Schola of St Kentigern singing the Gloria from the English Missa Simplex during our 12pm Sunday Mass:
