The Sanctus — "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts" — is the hymn that opens the Eucharistic Prayer. Here's what it means and the two biblical visions it comes from.
The Sanctus Meaning: The Biblical Roots of "Holy, Holy, Holy" at the Eucharistic Prayer
As the Eucharistic Prayer begins — "the center and summit" of the Mass — the whole assembly sings the Sanctus: "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest…" In this session of The Mass Explained, Dr. Brant Pitre shows that this single hymn weaves together two moments of Scripture: the prophet Isaiah's vision of the seraphim around God's throne crying "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts" (Isaiah 6), and the crowds welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem with "Hosanna… Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 21). He also opens up the introductory dialogue — "The Lord be with you… Lift up your hearts" — tracing "and with your spirit" to St. Paul (2 Timothy 4:22) and the ancient liturgy, and explains why the Fathers saw the start of the Eucharistic Prayer as entering the "Holy of Holies."
Key passages & sources examined: Isaiah's vision of the seraphim (Isaiah 6:1–7); Jesus' triumphal entry, "Hosanna" (Matthew 21:9); "The Lord be with you" / "and with your spirit" (Ruth 2:4; 2 Timothy 4:22); "Lift up your hearts" (Lamentations 3:41); the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus; St. Cyprian and St. John Chrysostom; and William Durand on the "Holy of Holies."
Where does "Holy, Holy, Holy" come from in the Bible? From Isaiah's vision of the angels around God's throne singing "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts" (Isaiah 6).
What does "Hosanna in the highest" mean? It is the cry of the crowds welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem (Matthew 21), joined to the angels' hymn in the Sanctus.
Why do we respond "and with your spirit"? It echoes St. Paul's greeting, "The Lord be with your spirit" (2 Timothy 4:22), and the most ancient liturgies.
When is the Sanctus sung? At the end of the Preface, as the Eucharistic Prayer begins.
Want every Sunday and feast explained like this?
Get Dr. Brant Pitre’s complete Mass Readings Explained — a new study for every Sunday and holy day.
This is a subscription where the content is accessed online through your account. Once logged in, you can access everything by going to 'Mass Readings Explained' in the main menu bar of our website, then 'Watch Videos' and then pick one of the options there. The calendar view works well for finding those Mass Readings that are in the near future and The Mass Explained will take you to videos in that series.
All of content I have watched so far is excellent. Perfectly paced, at a level for everyone and contributes greatly in my journey to be a better Catholic.
The information presented by Dr.Pitre was informative, but too long for our group. We prefer a more concise 10-15 minute lesson as to truly keep our attention and give time for plenty discussion.
This is a subscription where the content is accessed online through your account. Once logged in, you can access everything by going to 'Mass Readings Explained' in the main menu bar of our website, then 'Watch Videos' and then pick one of the options there. The calendar view works well for finding those Mass Readings that are in the near future and The Mass Explained will take you to videos in that series.
All of content I have watched so far is excellent. Perfectly paced, at a level for everyone and contributes greatly in my journey to be a better Catholic.
The information presented by Dr.Pitre was informative, but too long for our group. We prefer a more concise 10-15 minute lesson as to truly keep our attention and give time for plenty discussion.
