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Chapter 7 - Prayers & Responses During the Traditional Latin Mass

7. Holy, Holy, Holy (Sanctus)

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The Angelic Hymn of Praise

The Sanctus is a sacred hymn of adoration, echoing the cry of the Seraphim in Isaiah 6:3 and the heavenly worship in the Apocalypse 4:8: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts.” It marks the solemn entrance into the Canon of the Mass, the heart of the unbloody Sacrifice of Calvary. In the Traditional Latin Mass, this prayer is prayed or sung with deep reverence, lifting the faithful beyond earth into the liturgy of Heaven.

For true Catholics who reject the false Vatican II religion, the Sanctus is not a moment of performance or audience participation—it is a proclamation of God’s absolute holiness and majesty. The Conciliar Church, born from Vatican II, has disfigured this prayer with irreverent music, hand gestures, and a worldly tone. It no longer understands the Mass as a sacrifice but treats it as a community meal. In this context, the true Sanctus stands as a shining example of what the Novus Ordo has abandoned: transcendence, reverence, and awe before the Holy Trinity.

By praying the Sanctus in Latin, as preserved in the true Church, the faithful join in the eternal worship of Heaven, where the liturgy is centered not on man, but on Almighty God.

1. Sanctus

Latin:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua.
Hosánna in excélsis.
Benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dómini.
Hosánna in excélsis.

English Translation:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

📌 Key Notes on the Prayer:

  1. A Direct Participation in the Worship of Heaven – The Sanctus joins us with the angels and saints, who eternally adore God.

  2. Found in Both the Old and New Testament – First proclaimed by the Seraphim in Isaiah 6:3, it appears again in Apocalypse 4:8 as the unceasing hymn of the heavenly throne.

  3. A Declaration of God's Absolute Holiness – The threefold repetition of "Holy" signifies God’s infinite majesty, power, and perfection.

  4. Christ's Entry into the Sacrifice – "Benedictus qui venit in nómine Dómini" (Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord) is a prophetic acknowledgment of Christ’s presence in the Mass, preparing for His real sacramental offering in the Consecration.

  5. A Hymn of Praise Before the Sacrifice – The Sanctus immediately precedes the Canon, marking a transition from human praise to the divine act of the Holy Sacrifice.

  6. A Counter to the Novus Ordo's Irreverent Changes – The Vatican II Novus Ordo Missae has reinterpreted or trivialized this prayer by changing its context and delivery, shifting focus from divine adoration to human participation.

2. Pronunciation Guide

Here is a word-by-word pronunciation breakdown using Ecclesiastical Latin:

Sanctus - Pronunciation Guide

Sanctus - Pronunciation Guide

Latin Phrase Phonetic Pronunciation Meaning
Sanctus, Sanctus, SanctusSAHNK-toos, SAHNK-toos, SAHNK-toosHoly, Holy, Holy
Dóminus Deus SábaothDOH-mee-noos DAY-oos SAH-bah-ohtLord God of Hosts
Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tuaPLEH-nee soont CHAY-lee et TEHR-rah GLOR-ee-ah TOO-ahHeaven and earth are full of Thy glory
Hosánna in excélsishoh-SAHN-nah een eks-CHEL-seesHosanna in the highest
Benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dóminibeh-neh-DEEK-toos kwee VEH-neet een NOH-mee-neh DOH-mee-neeBlessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord

📌 Key Pronunciation Notes:

  1. Sanctus – SAHNK-toos → The "c" before "t" is hard "k", not soft.

  2. Dóminus – DOH-mee-noos → The "o" is long (DOH), not "DAW".

  3. Deus – DAY-oos → The "e" is "ay", and "u" is fully vocalized (oo).

  4. Sábaoth – SAH-bah-oht → The "th" is a hard "t", and the "o" is distinctly pronounced.

  5. Pleni – PLEH-nee → The "e" is "eh", stress on "PLEH", not "ple-NEE".

  6. Cæli – CHAY-lee → Soft "c" before "æ" makes a "ch" sound, not "kay-lee".

  7. Glória – GLOR-ee-ah → "ia" is two syllables: ee-ah, not "yah".

  8. Hosánna – hoh-SAHN-nah → The "h" is pronounced, stress on "SAHN", not "HOH-sanna".

  9. Excélsis – eks-CHEL-sees → "xc" is "ks-ch", not "eks-sel".

  10. Benedíctus – beh-neh-DEEK-toos → "c" before "t" is hard "k", not soft.

  11. Qui – kwee → The "qu" is "kw", never "kee".

  12. Venit – VEH-neet → The "e" is short (VEH), stress on "VEH".

  13. Nómine – NOH-mee-neh → "o" is long and stressed (NOH), final "e" is pronounced (neh).

✅ Practice Tip: Slowly say each word aloud several times, ensuring correct pronunciation.

3. Videos

LATIN: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua.Hosánna in excélsis.Benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dómini.Hosánna in excélsis.

PHONETIC: VEH-nee Kreh-AH-tor SPEE-ree-toos, MEN-tehs too-OH-room VEE-zee-tah, EEM-pleh soo-PEHR-nah GRAH-tsee-ah, KWEH too kreh-AHS-tee PEK-toh-rah. KWEE DEE-cheh-rees Pah-RAH-klee-toos, DOH-noom DAY-ee ahl-TEES-see-mee, FONS VEE-voos EEG-nees KAH-ree-tahs, EHT spee-ree-TAH-lees OONK-tsee-oh. Too sep-tee-FOR-mees MOO-neh-reh, DEKS-tray DAY-ee too DEE-jee-toos, Too REE-teh proh-MEES-soom PAH-trees, Sehr-MOH-neh DEE-tahns GOOT-too-rah. AHT-chen-deh LOO-men SEN-see-boos, EEN-FOON-deh ah-MOH-rem KOR-dee-boos, EEN-feer-mah NOHS-tree KOR-poh-rees, Vee-ROO-teh FEER-mahns PEHR-peh-tee. OH-stem reh-PEL-lahs LONG-gee-oos, PAH-chem-kweh DOH-nes PROH-tee-noos, Dook-TOH-reh seek TEH PRAY-vee-oh, Vee-TAY-moos OM-neh NOHK-see-oom. Pehr teh SKEE-ah-moos dah PAH-trem, Nohs-KAH-moos AHT-kweh FEE-lee-oom, TEH-kweh oo-TREE-oos-kweh SPEE-ree-toom, Kreh-DAH-moos OM-nee TEM-po-reh. DAY-oh PAH-tree seet GLOH-ree-ah, EHT FEE-lee-oh kwee ah MOR-too-ees, Soor-REHK-seet ahk Pah-RAH-klee-toh, EEN SAY-koo-LOH-room SAY-koo-lah AH-men.

LATIN: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua.Hosánna in excélsis.Benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dómini.Hosánna in excélsis. PHONETIC: VEH-nee Kreh-AH-tor SPEE-ree-toos, MEN-tehs too-OH-room VEE-zee-tah, EEM-pleh soo-PEHR-nah GRAH-tsee-ah, KWEH too kreh-AHS-tee PEK-toh-rah. KWEE DEE-cheh-rees Pah-RAH-klee-toos, DOH-noom DAY-ee ahl-TEES-see-mee, FONS VEE-voos EEG-nees KAH-ree-tahs, EHT spee-ree-TAH-lees OONK-tsee-oh. Too sep-tee-FOR-mees MOO-neh-reh, DEKS-tray DAY-ee too DEE-jee-toos, Too REE-teh proh-MEES-soom PAH-trees, Sehr-MOH-neh DEE-tahns GOOT-too-rah. AHT-chen-deh LOO-men SEN-see-boos, EEN-FOON-deh ah-MOH-rem KOR-dee-boos, EEN-feer-mah NOHS-tree KOR-poh-rees, Vee-ROO-teh FEER-mahns PEHR-peh-tee. OH-stem reh-PEL-lahs LONG-gee-oos, PAH-chem-kweh DOH-nes PROH-tee-noos, Dook-TOH-reh seek TEH PRAY-vee-oh, Vee-TAY-moos OM-neh NOHK-see-oom. Pehr teh SKEE-ah-moos dah PAH-trem, Nohs-KAH-moos AHT-kweh FEE-lee-oom, TEH-kweh oo-TREE-oos-kweh SPEE-ree-toom, Kreh-DAH-moos OM-nee TEM-po-reh. DAY-oh PAH-tree seet GLOH-ree-ah, EHT FEE-lee-oh kwee ah MOR-too-ees, Soor-REHK-seet ahk Pah-RAH-klee-toh, EEN SAY-koo-LOH-room SAY-koo-lah AH-men.

4. How to Integrate the Prayer Into Daily Prayer

  1. Pray It Before and After Mass – As a preparation for the Sacrifice of the Altar, and in thanksgiving afterward.

  2. Use It as a Morning or Night Prayer – Meditating on God’s absolute holiness sanctifies one’s daily life.

  3. Sing It During Eucharistic Adoration – The Sanctus brings the soul into alignment with angelic worship before the Blessed Sacrament.

  4. Recite It in Reparation for Liturgical Abuses – The Sacred Liturgy has been desacralized in the modern church. Reciting the Sanctus in its traditional form combats irreverence.

  5. Incorporate It Into Family Prayers – Teaching children this angelic hymn preserves the faith and reverence for the Mass.

📌 When Reciting the Sanctus, Show Reverence and Devotion By:

  1. Kneeling or Standing with Profound Respect – The Sanctus is a heavenly hymn of worship, mirroring the adoration of the angels. Whether sung or recited, it should be done with deep reverence and humility.

  2. Bowing the Head at the Name of the Lord – When saying “Dóminus” (Lord), it is a pious tradition to bow the head in adoration of God’s majesty.

  3. Chanting the Sanctus Solemnly – When sung, the Sanctus should be slow and reverent, never rushed or spoken carelessly, to reflect the awe of standing in God’s presence.

  4. Praying It as an Act of Adoration – Even outside of Mass, the Sanctus can be prayed before the Blessed Sacrament, as an act of worship and thanksgiving.

  5. Meditating on Its Scriptural Origins – The Sanctus is a biblical hymn, recited by the Seraphim in Isaiah 6:3 and the saints in Apocalypse 4:8. Visualizing this scene enhances devotion and awe.

  6. Recollecting the Presence of the Angels – When we pray the Sanctus, we are joining the celestial choirs in eternal praise. Remembering this deepens reverence and devotion.

  7. Reciting It With the Right Disposition Before the Consecration – The Sanctus immediately precedes the Canon of the Mass, the holiest part of the liturgy. It should be prayed with focus, devotion, and anticipation of Christ’s Real Presence.

5. Lesson Summary

The Sanctus is a solemn hymn of the angels, proclaiming the holiness of God and preparing the faithful for the Canon of the Mass. Recited reverently in the Traditional Latin Mass, it stands in contrast to the desacralized worship of the Vatican II sect. True Catholics preserve this prayer in its rightful context: as adoration before the Holy Sacrifice of Calvary, not a celebration of community.

6. Final Thought – Why Does This Prayer Matter?

In the true Roman Catholic Church, the Sanctus reminds the faithful that the Mass is Heaven on earth—the unbloody re-presentation of Christ's Sacrifice on Calvary. This prayer, echoing the unending adoration of the angels, elevates the soul to God in awe and fear. It is a proclamation of God’s infinite majesty and our unworthiness to stand in His presence.

The Conciliar Church, born of Vatican II, has gutted the sacredness of the Mass and replaced the Sanctus with casual singing and human-centered celebration. In many Novus Ordo parishes, this sacred hymn has become a moment of clapping, theatrical choirs, and self-referential enthusiasm. The holy fear of God is gone. The very idea that the Mass is an offering to appease divine justice has been rejected in favor of ecumenism, emotionalism, and egalitarianism.

But true Catholics—those who have kept the faith amid the apostasy—pray the Sanctus as the saints and martyrs did: with bowed heads, purified hearts, and unwavering belief in the Real Presence of Christ upon the altar. This prayer is a rejection of modernist liturgy and man-centered worship. It is a solemn act of faith that God alone is worthy of glory, and that the Mass is the one acceptable Sacrifice offered by His Son.

To faithfully recite the Sanctus is to resist the errors of Vatican II, to adore the Most Holy Trinity with the voice of tradition, and to proclaim: "Lord, we are not here to celebrate ourselves—we are here to worship Thee."

“Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth….”

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