Sarum Missal: the Mass for the Dead (Requiem) (printed editions c. 1487–1557; English translation 1911)

When the Mass for the Dead is Said

Be it known that mass is said daily in chapter, before Terce, on behalf of the faithful departed, throughout Advent (when the quire is not ruled) till Christmas Eve, and from the octave of the Epiphany till the Wednesday before Easter, and from the Monday after Trinity Sunday till Advent. [Further rubrics on vestments, the altar used and the days excepted are omitted.]

Note, that at any mass which is celebrated in the presence of the corpse, whosoever it be, except in the case of a king or queen, or some great lord, five prayers are said: 1. Almighty and everlasting God, we humbly entreat thy mercy etc. 2. O God, who hast caused etc. 3. O God, the bestower of pardon etc. 4. Almighty and merciful God, the only salvation etc. 5. O God, the creator and redeemer of all etc. [Rubrics for trentals and anniversaries are omitted.]

Whenever the corpse is present, and on the anniversaries of bishops and deans of the church, after that the officiant at the beginning of mass has censed the altar, the deacon shall advance with the censer, and cense the corpse on the bier or in the tomb; secondly in the same way before the Gospel, while the Tract is being sung; and, thirdly, after the priest has censed the sacrifice, before the lavabo.

The Office (Introit)

Grant them, O Lord, eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Ps. Thou, O God, art praised in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem. Thou that hearest the prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

The Collect

The following prayer is said daily, until the day of burial, in the presence of the corpse, whosesoever corpse it may be:

O God, whose property is always to have mercy and to forgive, we humbly beseech thee on behalf of the soul of thy servant, which thou hast this day commanded to depart out of this world; that thou wouldest not deliver it into the hand of the enemy, nor forget it at the last, but that thou wouldest command it to be received by the holy angels, and be carried to the land of the living; and because he hoped and believed in thee, let him be accounted worthy to rejoice in the communion of thy saints. Through etc.

The Epistle

In the presence of a corpse, and on anniversaries and trentals of bishops, and on all souls' day only. Epistle. 1 Thess. iv. 13–18: I would not have you ... with these words.

On the anniversaries and trentals of all other persons. Lesson. 2 Macc. xii. 43–45: When he had made ... delivered from sin.

The two following Epistles are to be read throughout the whole year, at the daily Mass for the dead, alternately throughout the whole week. Lesson. Rev. xiv. 13: I heard a voice ... do follow them. Epistle. 1 Cor. xv. 20–23: Now is Christ ... his own order.

The Gradual and Tract

Whenever the corpse is present, the Gradual is said by three clerks of the second rank, standing at the head of the deceased person:

Gradual. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, O Lord. V. Thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

In all other masses for the dead: Gradual. Grant them, O Lord, eternal rest; and let perpetual light shine upon them. V. Their souls shall dwell at ease: and their seed shall inherit the land.

Whenever the corpse is present, and in all masses for defunct bishops, the Tract is said by four clerks of the upper rank, standing at the head of the corpse:

Tract. Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks: so longeth my soul after thee, O God. My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God: when shall I come to appear before the presence of my God? My tears have been my meat day and night: while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God?

On anniversaries and trentals, and in all other Masses for the dead: Tract. Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord; Lord hear my voice. V. O let thine ears consider well: the voice of thy servant. V. If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss: O Lord, who may abide it? For there is mercy with thee: therefore shalt thou be feared, O Lord.

The Gospel

The following Gospel is said on behalf of a person whose corpse is present, and on all anniversaries and trentals of bishops, and on all souls' day, likewise on Sundays and Mondays. Gospel. St. John xi. 21–27: Then said Martha ... come into the world.

On Tuesday: St. John vi. 37–40, All that the Father ... at the last day. On Wednesday: St. John v. 24–29, Verily, verily, I say ... of damnation. On Thursday: St. John v. 21–24, As the Father raiseth ... from death unto life. On Friday: St. John vi. 51–54, I am the living ... at the last day. On Saturday: St. John vi. 53, 54, Verily, verily, I say ... at the last day.

The Offertory

O Lord Jesu Christ, king of glory, deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the hand of hell, and from the deep pit; deliver them from the lion's mouth, lest hell swallow them up, lest they fall into the blackness of darkness; but let saint Michael, the standard bearer, bring them into the holy light which thou promisedst to Abraham and to his seed of old.

Be it noted, that whenever the corpse is present, and on all anniversaries and trentals, after washing his hands the priest, standing in the midst of the altar, and with joined hands, shall begin to say, We offer unto thee, O Lord, sacrifices and prayers. The quire shall answer, Do thou receive them for those souls whose memory we keep this day; make them, O Lord, to pass from death unto life.

Then turning to the people he shall say privately, Brethren and sisters, pray for the faithful departed. The quire shall answer by chanting this Verse, Grant them, O Lord, eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon them, which thou promisedst to Abraham and to his seed of old.

On all souls' day only. Offertory. O loving God, who hast called back the first man unto eternal glory; O good shepherd, who didst bring back the lost sheep on thy kind shoulder to the sheepfold; O just judge, when thou shalt come to judge, deliver from death the souls of those whom thou hast redeemed; give not the souls which confess thee a portion with the beasts; abandon them not for ever.

The Secret

Before the day of burial. Accept, we beseech thee, O Lord, merciful Father, the oblation which we offer unto thee for the soul of thy servant N. which thou hast delivered this day from the corruption of the flesh; and grant that by this remedy all the excesses of this mortal state may be expiated, and that in everlasting rest he may await the day of resurrection. Through etc.

The Communion and Postcommunion

In all Masses when the corpse is present, and on all anniversaries and trentals, and on all souls' day: Communion. Grant unto those, O Lord, in memory of whom the body of Christ is received, eternal rest; V. And let perpetual light shine upon them. Grant unto those, O Lord, in memory of whom the blood of Christ is received eternal rest.

In all other masses for the dead: Communion. Let eternal light shine upon them, O Lord: together with thy saints for ever, because thou art kind. V. Grant unto them, O Lord, eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon them, together with thy saints for ever, because thou art kind.

Before the day of burial. Postcommunion. Grant, we beseech thee, almighty God, that thou wouldest cause the soul of thy servant N. to be received by the angels of light, and to be carried to the habitations prepared for the blessed. Through etc.

On the Day of Burial

Whosesoever corpse it may be, the following Collect is said: Almighty and everlasting God, we humbly entreat thy mercy, that thou wouldest commend the soul of thy servant, for whose body we perform the due office of burial, to be laid in the bosom of thy patriarch Abraham; that, when the day of recognition shall arrive, he may be raised up, at thy bidding, among the saints and thy elect. Through etc.

Secret. Receive, O Lord, on behalf of the soul of thy servant the sacrifice which thou hast graciously offered to God the Father for us; and because for the sake of man thou didst come down from heaven, when thou shalt come again, let it be counted worthy to be united to the company of thy saints. Through thee, O Saviour of the world. Who etc.

Postcommunion. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the soul of thy servant, for whose body we this day perform the duty of humanity, having been cleansed by this sacrifice, may give thanks to thee for the perpetual gift of thy salvation. Through etc.

On the Thirtieth Day and on Anniversaries

On the Thirtieth Day. Collect. O God, whose property is always to have mercy and to forgive, be favourable unto the soul of thy servant, and forgive all his sins, that being loosed from the bonds of death he may be counted worthy to pass into life. Through etc.

Secret. Look down, we beseech thee, almighty everlasting God, and vouchsafe favourably to receive this sacrifice, which we offer unto thee on behalf of the soul of thy servant; and grant unto him perpetual peace and everlasting rest. Through etc.

Postcommunion. We beseech thee, O Lord, that the celebration of this divine sacrament may be profitable unto the soul of thy servant; that through thy mercy he may attain unto eternal fellowship with him in whom he trusted and believed. Who liveth etc.

On Anniversaries. Collect. O Lord God of pardon, grant unto the soul of thy servant, the anniversary of whose burial we now commemorate, a place of refreshment, a blessed rest, and the clearness of thy light. Through etc.

Secret. We beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully to hear our prayers on behalf of the soul of thy servant, whose anniversary is kept to-day, and for whom we offer unto thee the sacrifice of praise, that thou wouldest vouchsafe to admit him to the fellowship of thy saints. Through etc.

Postcommunion. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the soul of thy servant, the anniversary of whose burial we are keeping, may be cleansed by this sacrifice, and may obtain alike pardon and everlasting rest. Through etc.

[Warren continues with sets of prayers for bishops, brethren and sisters, benefactors and others, pp. 184–200.]