mszy

Mszy is the genitive singular, and also the locative/dative singular, form of the Polish noun Msza, which means Mass in Catholic liturgy. It appears in phrases such as “Mszy Świętej” (Holy Mass) and “podczas Mszy” (during Mass). As a grammatical form, it is not a proper noun or a place, but a case form used to reference the Mass within sentences.

Etymology and meaning: The Polish noun Msza derives from the Latin missa, through ecclesiastical Polish. The Latin term originally signified the dismissal of the faithful at the end of the service, a meaning reflected in the liturgical phrase “Ite, missa est.” The Polish noun and its declined forms carry the same root and designate the Catholic celebration of the Eucharist.

Usage and forms: In everyday and liturgical Polish, common phrases include “Mszy Świętej” (genitive), “podczas Mszy” (during Mass), and “na Mszy Świętej” (at Holy Mass). The plural form Msze refers to multiple Masses, as in “Msze w niedzielę.” The distinction between Mszy and Msze is grammatical (case) rather than semantic; Mszy serves as a form of the singular Mass noun when required by prepositions or sentence structure, while Msze names several Mass events.

Context: In Poland and among Polish-speaking communities, the term is entrenched in religious language, church schedules, prayers, and liturgical writings. The basic event is referred to as Msza, with Mszy functioning as the appropriate inflected form within sentences.