Thinking Liturgically: The Introit

high massAfter the Confetior and a series of prayers, the priest ascends the altar and begins to read the Introit.  During High Mass, this is the set of verses that is chanted as Mass begins.  In the Ordinary Form, this is referred to as the “opening verse”, and is actually optional.  The priest might say it silently, say it briefly before Mass begins, have it sung and chanted, etc.   If we are looking for a way to positively reform the liturgy, the way we handle the Introit should be front and center.


Like many others, I was quite surprised to learn that for those attending the ordinary form, the Introit is still part of the propers. Yet like many other occurrences, there are allowances for “other suitable” replacements. In practice, whenever this phrase has appeared throughout the missals, traditional customs and piety were abolished within the parish. This is a shame, and something we Catholics should rightly lament.  Yet in recent times we are starting to see a change, especially among the “reform of the reform” crowd in both the Extraordinary and Ordinary Form.  They realize the importance of the Introit.



