ASK FATHER: Use of the Advent Preface in the TLM, Extraordinary Form
From a reader…
QUAERITUR:
Hello Father, Happy Advent! Today, our priest didn’t use the Preface for Advent which my hand missal says was promulgated (along with one for the Holy Eucharist, All Saints, and the Dedication of a Church) in
1962 for use. Are these considered ad libitum? If not, what were the restrictions? God bless and thank you for your time!
And a penitentially happy Advent back at you.
It is permitted to use those so-called “Gallican Prefaces” with the 1962 Missale Romanum but it is not obligatory.
They are now a legitimate option for the Extraordinary Form, although many people object to their use. Some think that nothing at all should be introduced to the 1962 book. Period. Others think that the prefaces are okay, but that, right now, it isn’t prudent to incorporate them into the practice of the Extraordinary Form yet. They think that we need a measure of time for us to regain some lost time and territory, as it were. Perhaps in the future they could be used but not now.
I don’t have any objection to their use. Today I might have used the Advent Preface, but the book was already set up with the Preface for the Holy Trinity and it didn’t occur to me at the moment.
The Advent Preface is:
“It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to Thee, Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God: for through the Mystery of the Word made flesh, new radiance from Thy glory hath so shone on the eye of the soul that the recognition of our God made visible draweth us to love what is invisible. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army we sing a hymn to Thy glory, evermore saying: …”
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