sanctus

Sanctus is a Latin term meaning "holy." In Christian liturgy, Sanctus refers to a specific hymn or acclamation that proclaims the holiness of God and is sung or recited during the Eucharistic celebration in many Western rites. The standard text combines a triadic invocation and a doxology: "Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth," followed by "Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua" and the concluding "Hosanna in excelsis." The Sanctus is typically spoken or sung after the Preface, serving as the transition into the Eucharistic Prayer (the Canon in many rites).

Origin and usage: The Sanctus draws on biblical imagery, with its opening line rooted in Isaiah 6:3. It appears in Catholic, Anglican, and other Western Christian liturgies, though wording and placement can vary slightly by tradition. In the Roman Rite, it precedes the Eucharistic Prayer and marks the moment just before the consecration.

Musical and cultural significance: The Sanctus has been a central element of liturgical music for centuries. It has been set to music in a wide range of styles, from early plainchant to Renaissance polyphony and later orchestral and choral settings by composers such as Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and others, continuing in contemporary liturgical and concert music. Its enduring presence reflects its role as a solemn acknowledgment of the sacred and as a preparation for the central mysteries of the Mass.

See also: Liturgical music, Mass, Eucharistic Prayer, Doxology.