Traditional Latin Mass: order and following the prayers

Missale Online provides access to the traditional Latin Mass according to the Missale Romanum 1962. This introduction explains the order of Mass and how to follow the texts of the day.

Open today’s Mass texts →

How is the traditional Latin Mass structured?

The order of Mass combines recurring prayers with texts specific to the day. The Missal calls the order of the celebration Ordo Missae. This overview describes the main parts of a regular Mass; special days may differ.

  1. Opening prayers, readings and Gospel: The opening includes the prayers at the foot of the altar, Introit and Kyrie. These are followed by the Collect, Reading and Gospel, among other parts. The Gloria and Credo are prayed on the appointed days.
  2. Offertory and Canon: The Offertory is followed by the Secret, Preface and Sanctus. The Canon contains the prayers over the offerings and the words of consecration.
  3. Communion and conclusion: The Lord’s Prayer and Agnus Dei lead to Communion. The Communion antiphon, Postcommunion and concluding prayers follow.

The individual parts are described in the General Rubrics of the Roman Missal, nos. 424–510 . The Ordinary page provides the recurring texts.

How do I find the right Mass texts?

  1. Choose a date: Open the Daily calendar. “Today” takes you to the current day. For another date, use the calendar strip or the date navigation arrows.
  2. Check the feast and formulary: The feast name, date, class and colour appear above the texts. If several Masses are available, choose the required formulary. The Key explains the classes and colours.
  3. Adjust the view: The language buttons display one edition or “Both”. On narrow screens, “Both” stacks the corresponding text pairs; with enough space, they appear side by side. A− and A+ change the text size.
  4. Jump to a section: The contents list takes you to sections such as the Introit, Gospel or Canon. The passage remains your reference point when you change the language view.

To read them together, you do not need to switch between two books: the daily page places Proper and Ordinary in the order of Mass. Use “Ordinary” to hide the recurring parts when you only need the changing texts.

Which translation is displayed?

The reading language applies to all text sections. We use published sources and our own translations. The second source fills only gaps in the primary source. If neither source has a translation, the passage is marked as untranslated. Source order by language and text section.

The 1927 Schott edition is available as a historical PDF download. It is not the same edition as a Missal of 1962. For a particular day, use the calendar and check the selected source. The source overview explains the origin of the texts.

Why might the local celebration differ?

Missale Online shows the general calendar stored here. Local feasts, a votive Mass or a Mass for the dead may require different texts. The rules for the relevant calendar are in the Rubrics of the Missal, nos. 274–284. For a particular celebration, also follow the guidance of the parish.

For an overview of the liturgical year, open the Feast calendar. Find a particular feast in the Proper index.