Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth. Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis. Benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis.
✦Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Sanctus — "Holy, Holy, Holy" — is the hymn with which the whole Church, on earth and in heaven, greets God at the threshold of the Canon of the Mass. It weaves together two songs of Scripture: the cry of the Seraphim before the throne of God, heard by the prophet Isaiah — "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God of hosts, all the earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:3) — and the acclamation of the crowds who greeted Our Lord entering Jerusalem: "Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 21:9).
In the traditional Mass the Sanctus is sung at the end of the Preface, as the priest bows and the bell is rung, and it leads immediately into the sacred silence of the Canon. Joining the angels' own worship, the faithful confess that the God adored by the seraphim is the same Lord who comes, humbly and really, upon the altar.
By ancient custom the Benedictus qui venit — "Blessed is he that cometh" — is sung after the Consecration in a solemn Mass, for now He has indeed come: the words spoken of Christ entering the holy city are fulfilled anew as He becomes present in the Blessed Sacrament.
Holy, Holy, Holy,
Lord God of Hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,
Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua.
Hosánna in excélsis.
Benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dómini.
Hosánna in excélsis.
Holy, Holy, Holy,
Lord God of Hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.