Diocese of Covington - Messenger at 402 E. 21st Street, Covington, KY 41015 US - Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus

Priest & People:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. 
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus

As Catholics, we recognize that life on this earth is just the beginning of the great journey of our existence. We are reminded in the funeral liturgy that “life is changed not ended.” We are a pilgrim people traveling through this life with our eyes focused on the goal, which is Heaven! Even the word “parishioner,” which we often use to identify ourselves, means: resident alien. The earth is where we live, but Heaven is our home.

The Church is constantly attempting to draw us into this reality. She does this particularly in Her liturgy by exposing us to Heavenly things. Within the Holy Mass, we come as close to Heaven as possible, this side of death. Everything about the Mass expresses a reality that is beyond our own (one that is different) – from the sights and sounds and smells, to the way that we act and think, and particularly in the way that we speak. The language of the liturgy is meant to bring us to the culture of Heaven.

The English translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal does this in a particular way within the <<<Sanctus>>>. St. John’s vision of Heaven is given to us in the Book of Revelation where he heard the choirs of saints and angels, exclaim, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts ...” (Rev 4:8) We on earth not only echo their song of praise, we join with them in proclaiming the greatness of the Lord. And then again we join with the prophet Isaiah in proclaiming, “All the earth is filled with his glory.” (Is 6:3) And finally, in the songs of the crowds of Jerusalem as the Lord Jesus entered on His way to sacrifice himself on a cross for our sakes we sing, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” (Mt 21:9)

Words are important and these words in particular draw us into the culture of Heaven. In order to understand a culture, you must understand its language, but the only way you can really and truly understand a language is to be immersed within its culture. In the Sacred Liturgy, the Church teaches us the language of Heaven by immersing us within the culture of Heaven. Day in and day out, throughout the world, there is never a time when the faithful are not gathered around the Lord’s altar proclaiming His greatness with the entire host of Heaven. She does this so that when our journey on earth is through not only will we recognize where we are, but we will also be recognized.