The Gothic Missal includes prayers for the celebration of mass on the feast day honouring the chair of *Peter (the Apostle, S00008). Written in Latin in Gaul, perhaps at Luxeuil for the Christian community of Autun, c. 680/710.
E08234
Liturgical texts - Sacramentaries
Late antique original manuscripts - Parchment codex
The Gothic Missal (Missale Gothicum)
MISSA IN CATHEDRA SANCTI PETRI APOSTVLI
148. <PRAEFATIO.> Sollemnitatis praedicandae diem praecipue nobilem, in quo fidem praecellenti filius excelsi dei ori Petri monstratus est, et in coapostulos, interrogante de se Christo quis esset, uere confessus est, cum beatus Bariona uoce redemtoris fide deuote praelatus est, ut per hanc Petri petram bases eclesiae fixus est. Venerantes, fratres dilectissimi, depraecemur ut tam gloriosa laude fidem Petri qui praetulit, ipse beatitudinis auctur plebem conroboret. Per dominum nostrum.
149. COLLECTIO SEQVITVR. Deus, qui hodierna die beatum Petrum pos te dedisti caput eclesiae, cum te ille uere confessus sit et ipse a te digne praelatus sit, supplices exoramus ut qui dedisti pastorem ne quid de ouibus perderis, ut grex effugiat erroris, eius intercessione, quem praefecisti, saluifices. Quod ipse praestare.
150. POST NOMINA. Deum, qui beato Petro tantam potestatem discipulo contulit, ut si legauerit, non sit alter qui soluerit et quae in terra soluerit, idem caelo soluta sint, praecibus inpleremus ut eductis a tartaro defunctorum spiritibus non pareualeant sepultis infernae portae per crimina, quas per apostuli fide uinci redit eclesia. Per dominum nostrum Iesum Christum.
151. COLLECTIO AD PACEM. Clementissime conditor, qui tanta caritate succendisti discipulum ut sei de naue iactato, ad te celer festinaret pede nudo per pelagus, et uidens hanc dilectionem, claues ei dans siderum, uoces inspice suggerentium, ut quicumque ex praecepto iunguntur ad osculum, liuore pectoris excluso illuc per gratiam ducantur, quae celi Petrus est ianitor. Praesta, saluator mundi.
152. CONTESTATIO. Dignum et iustum est, qui diues infinitae clementiae cupioso munere plasmam tuae creaturae in tantum dignaris erigere, ut uernaculo limi patiaris, homine de terrena conpage claues caeli committeris et ad iudicandas tribus solium excelsae sedis in sublime conponeres. Testis estdies hodierna beati Petri cathedra episcopatus exposita, in qua fidei merito reuelationis mysterium filium dei confitendo praelatus apostolos ordinatur. In cuius confessione est fundamentum eclesiae, nec aduersus hanc petram portae inferi praeualent nec serpens uestigium expraemit nec triumphum mors obtinet. Quid uero beato Petro diuerso sub tempore accessit laudis et gloriae, quae uox, quae lingua, quis explecit? Hinc est quod mare tremulum fixo calcat uistigio et inter undas liquidas pendula planta perambulat. Hic ad portam speciosam contracti tendit uestigia et tactus Petri digitos codus non indigit baculo. Hinc carciratus dum dormitat, Christus cum ipso peruigilat et retrusus ergastulo foras procedit per angelum. Hinc paraliticum erexit decubantem in lectulo ac debilitato uerbo dedit uestigiom. Hinc Tabitha mulierem reuocauit de funere et uirtute imperanti praedare non licuit. Hinc tanta fidei dotem inter apostulos petiit, ut curaret uniuersos languores dum praeterit, et cadauera uiuerent, umbra salubris quae tetegit. Per Christum dominum nostrum. Cui merito.
154. POST SANCTVS. Suscipe, domine, inter angelicae uoces officium nostrae quoque seruitutis obsequium. Per Christum.
154. POST MYSTERIVM. Haec igitur praecepta seruantes sacrosancta munera nostrae salutis offerimus, obsecrantes ut inmiscere digneris spiritum tuum sanctum supra haec sollemnia, ut fiat nobis legitima eucaristia in tuo filique tui nomine et spiritus sanctus in transformatione corporis ac sanguinis domini nostri Iesu Christi unigeniti tui, edentibus nobis uitam aeternam regnumque perpetuum conlatura bibituris. Per ipsum dominum.
155. ANTE ORATIONEM DOMINICAM. Diuino magisterio edocti et diuina institutione formati audemus dicere: PATER NOSTER.
156. POST ORATIONEM DOMINICAM. Libera nos, aeterna pietas et uera libertas neque sinas ab inimico capi, qui a te cupiunt possideri. Omnipotens, qui uiues.
157. BENEDICTIO. Supra caelorum agmina sedens, toto orbe terarum pugillo concludens, uotuia hodierni dies sollemnia celebraturos peraudi. AMEN. Vt qui sancti patroni nostri Petri tuique apostoli festa colimus, per eius intercessionem tibi placiamus. AMEN. Da sacerdotum, regum cunctorumque populorum illa semper in mente, ut qui te deum uerum confitentes, laudes dicentes, inlata nostrorum crimina saluantur. AMEN. Et quemadmodum nos fecisti de sacro fonte procidere puros, ita nos iobeas in eterna repacula cum sanctorum cetibus sociare perpetuos. Quod ipse praestare digneris, qui cum patre.
'Mass for Saint Peter's Chair
148 [Preface.] While we celebrate the highly honourable day of the laudable celebration, on which, through an outstanding faith, the Son of the highest God (cf. Matth. 16, 16) is revealed through the mouth of Peter, and on which he truthfully confessed in the presence of his fellow apostles on the question of Christ concerning himself and who He was, when the blessed Bariona (Matth. 16, 17) was chosen through the Word of the redeemer by reason of his devoted faith so that on this rock (Matth. 16, 18) of Peter the foundation of the Church was laid, [let us pray], most beloved brothers, that the Creator the beatitude himself, who elevated the faith of Peter with such glorious praise, strengthens his people. Through our Lord.
149. Collect follows. God, who on this day gave the blessed Peter as head of the Church after you, when he truthfully confessed you and was worthily elevated by you, we humbly pray that you, who gave a shepherd so that no sheep be lost, save [us], so that the flock escapes errors, through the intercession of him whom you appointed at the head. And may you deign [...]
150. After the names. Let us invoke God with supplications, who conferred on the blessed disciple Peter such power that, if he will have bound, no other will loose, and what he will have loosed on earth will be loosed on heaven: that, when the souls of the deceased are led out of the hell, the gates of Hades, which the Church believes will be overcome by the faith of the apostles, will not prevail (Matth. 16, 18) through sin over those who are buried. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
151. Collect at the kiss of peace. Most merciful Creator, who set the disciple on fire with such great love that he lept out of the boat and quickly hastened to you bare-footed across the sea, and because you saw this love and gave him the keys to heaven (Matth. 16, 19): look mercifully on the voices of those who implore you, so that all who join together on [your] command at the kiss [of peace] expel envy from the heart and are led through grace to where Peter is the gate watcher of heaven. Grant this, Saviour of the world.
152. Prayer of sacrifice. It is worthy and just [that we bring thanks to you], who in your profusion, with the copious gift of your infinite clemency, deign to raise up the handiwork of your creation such that you had compassion for the little slave of clay, entrusted the keys of heaven (Matth. 16, 19) to a person of earthly making and, to judge the tribes (Matth. 16, 19) installed the throne of the supreme seat in the highest. The present day is a witness that the chair of the episcopacy of Peter is established, this day on which the apostle by merit of his faith was appointed as head of the Church because he confessed the mystery of the revelation of the Son of God. On his confession stands the foundation of the Church: against this rock the gates of Hades cannot prevail (Matth. 16, 18), the serpent disappears without trace and death does not triumph. But the praise and glory which the blessed Peter received in the course of time, what voice, what tongue, who could describe it? Hence it is that, with a firm foot he trampled the shaking sea and with a hovering foot he walked between the waves of water. He turned his foot to the Beautiful Gate where the lame sat, and the crippled, touched by the fingers of Peter, no longer needed a staff. Hence, when he was sleeping while in the prison, he came outside again through the help of an angel. Hence he raised up the lame who lay ill in bed and he made the crippled walk through his word. Hence he called the woman Tabitha back from death, and, at the command of his wondrous strength, [death] was not empowered to take [her] away. Hence he aspired to such a great gift of faith amid the apostles that he healed all illnesses when passed by, and the dead lived again when his salutary shadow (Act. 5, 15) touched them. Through Christ our Lord. To whom rightfully [the angels sing...]
153. After the sanctus. Accept, O Lord, the service of the voice of the angels, also the obedience of our worship. Through Christ.
154. After the consecration. We therefore offer these most holy gifts for your salvation, in obedience of your commands, praying that you deign to join your Holy Spirit with these ritual offerings, so that [this sacrifice] becomes for us a lawful Eucharist in the name of you and your Son and the Holy Spirit through the transformation of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ your only-begotten Son, so that [this Eucharist] will grant everlasting life to us who eat of it and the eternal kingdom to us who drink of it. Through the same Lord.
155. Before the Lord's prayer. Taught by divine instruction and formed by divine education we dare to say: OUR FATHER.
156. After the Lord's prayer. Deliver us [from evil], eternal Love and true Liberty, and do not allow those who long to be owned by you to be seized by the enemy. Almighty [God], who lives [...]
157. Blessing. You who are seated above the hosts of heaven, you who contain the entire orb of the earth in your hand, hear those who will celebrate the solemn rituals of this day. AMEN. So that we who celebrate the festivities of our holy patron and your apostle Peter will please you through his intercession. AMEN. Grant this forever in the heart of priests, kings and all your servants: that the sins committed by our people, who confess you as the true God, will be forgiven. AMEN. And, as you had us emerge pure from the holy font, let us thus be eternally united within the everlasting borders with the assembly of saints. [AMEN.] May you deign to grant this, who with the Father [...]'
Text: Rose 2005, 410-13.
Translation: Rose 2017, 180-4.
Service for the saint
Eucharist associated with cult
Liturgical invocation
Chant and religious singing
Other liturgical acts and ceremonies
FestivalsSaint’s feast
Non Liturgical ActivitySaint as patron - of a community
Prayer/supplication/invocation
Transmission, copying and reading saint-related texts
MiraclesMiracle during lifetime
Miracles experienced by the saint
Power over elements (fire, earthquakes, floods, weather)
Healing diseases and disabilities
Power over life and death
Freeing prisoners, exiles, captives, slaves
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics - lesser clergy
Monarchs and their family
Angels
Women
Theorising on SanctityConsiderations about the hierarchy of saints
Source
The Gothic Missal (Missale Gothicum) is the standard editorial name used for Vatican City, Bibliotheca Apostolica Vaticana, Reg. Lat. 317, a liturgical manuscript (sacramentary) compiled in Burgundy at the turn of the eighth century. It provides an exceptionally rare witness to late antique liturgical practice in Gaul. The inclusion of an entry for the late Merovingian political martyr Leudegar of Autun (eastern Gaul) (ob. 677/9) gives both an earliest possible date for the manuscript's compilation, and, since it appears alongside an entry for the earlier Autun martyr Symphorianus, an indication of the community for which the codex might have been made. On palaeographical grounds, E.A. Lowe located the Missal's production to the scriptorium of Luxeuil (c. 130 miles northeast of Autun), at a date no later than c. 710.The full manuscript is now available to view online: https://spotlight.vatlib.it/it/latin-paleography/catalog/Reg_lat_317
Discussion
The codex as it survives includes entries for nine biblical saints and nine from the city of Rome (plus Cyprian of Carthage, commemorated with Pope Cornelius), alongside six Gallic feast days and one from Spain (Saturninus, Eulalia, Ferreolus and Ferrucio, Symphorianus, Maurice and the Theban Legion, Leudegar, and Martin). The Missal covers most feasts in roughly chronological order, beginning after Christmas with the feast of Stephen (usually 26 Dec.). The manuscript does not, however, provide any dates for the celebration of these feasts: presumably, its users would have also had a separate liturgical calendar at hand.For an overview of the contents of the Gothic Missal, see E08222.
This feast for the chair of Peter can be found in contemporary Gallic calendars as falling on two days: the 'Rome' date of 18 Jan. (E04613, E05840), and the 'Antioch' date of 22 Feb. (E04693, E05841). Els Rose (2005, 236-44) argues that there was probably only one feast - as reflected in this single entry in the Gothic Missal - and that the 18 Jan. date was used as an alternative when 22 Feb. fell in Lent.
Bibliography
Edition and study:Missale Gothicum e codice Vaticano Reginensi latino 317 editum, ed. Els Rose (Turnhout, 2005).
Translation:
The Gothic Missal, trans. Els Rose (Turnhout, 2017).
Further reading:
Lowe, E.A., Codices latini antiquiores, 11 vols (Oxford, 1937-71), i. 32.
Benjamin Savill
04/09/2022
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00036 | Peter, the Apostle | Petrus | Certain |
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