Roman Missal (1962): Prefaces (English)
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, through Christ our Lord. In whom the hope of a blessed resurrection hath shone forth unto us; so that those who are saddened by the certain lot of dying, may be consoled by the promise of a future deathless life. For to Thy faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not taken away: and when the home of this earthly sojourn is dissolved, an eternal dwelling place is being prepared in the heavens. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
RubricDedication of a Church
It is truly right and just, proper and helpful toward salvation, that we always and everywhere give thanks to you, O Lord, holy Father, Almighty and eternal God, for you, the giver of all good gifts, inhabit this house of prayer which we have built, and unceasingly sanctify the Church which you founded. For your Church is the true house of prayer signified by these visible buildings, the temple where your glory dwells, the seat of unchangeable truth, the sanctuary of eternal charity. She is the ark which rescues us from the flood of this world and brings us into the port of salvation. She is the one beloved Bride whom Christ acquired by his blood and quickens by his Holy Spirit. In her bosom we are born anew by your grace, nourished by the milk of the Word, strengthened by the bread of life, encouraged by your merciful aid. With the help of her Bridegroom she struggles faithfully on earth and, crowned by him, is triumphant forever in heaven. Therefore with the Angels and Archangels, the Thrones and Dominations, and all the militant hosts of heaven, we continuously praise your glory in song, and say:
RubricBlessed Sacrament
It is truly right and just, proper and helpful toward salvation, that we always and everywhere give thanks to you, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord; for he abolished the animal sacrifices that were empty shadows and entrusted to us his own body and blood for a sacrifice, so that in every place might be offered to your name that clean oblation which alone has pleased you. So in this mystery of unsearchable wisdom and boundless love, being himself the one who offers and the victim, he ever wondrously effects what he accomplished once on the cross. Making us one victim with himself, he invites us to the sacred banquet in which he, our food, is eaten, the memory of his passion is renewed, the soul is filled with grace and a pledge of future glory is given. Therefore with the Angels and Archangels, the Thrones and Dominations, and all the militant hosts of heaven, we continuously praise your glory in song, and say:
RubricAll Saints and Holy Patrons
It is truly right and just, proper and helpful toward salvation, that we always and everywhere give thanks to you, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God; for you are glorified amid the assembly of the saints and in crowning their merits are crowning the gifts you have given them. You afford us in their lives good example, a place in their fellowship, help through their intercession. Surrounded with such a cloud of witnesses we can run our appointed course with patience and receive with them the unfading crown of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, whose blood gives us entrance into the eternal kingdom. Through him also the Angels adore your majesty in awe, and all the spirits of the heavenly choirs join in one grand chorus of joyous praise. We beg you, let our voices blend with theirs, as in humble praise we say:
RubricSt. John the Baptist
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God. And to praise Thy magnificence also in blessed John the Baptist, the Precursor, who, yet unborn, felt the voice of the Mother of the Lord, and, yet enclosed in the womb, foreshadowed with prophetic exultation the advent of human salvation: Whose conception removed the sterility of his mother and whose birth loosed the tongue of his father: who alone among all the prophets pointed to the Redeemer of the world, Whom he foretold: and, that the nature of water might take on the effect of sacred purification for those to be sanctified in the flow of the Jordan, washed in baptism the Author of Baptism Himself. And therefore with the Angels and Archangels, with the Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, evermore saying: