Sanctus

liturgical chant

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

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The term "Sanctus" refers to an ancient Christian hymn of adoration, sung or said just before the prayer of consecration in traditional liturgies. Its opening words, "Holy, holy, holy," are derived from Isaiah 6:3. In the context of music, the Sanctus is part of the Ordinary of the Mass, a set of texts that remain constant in every mass. It is often sung by the choir and can sometimes be divided into the Sanctus and Benedictus sections.12

Gregorian chant is a type of monodic and rhythmically free liturgical chant used in the Roman Catholic Church. The Sanctus, as part of the Mass, has been set to music in various forms throughout history, from early plainchant melodies to complex polyphonic compositions. A "Sanctus bell" is a bell rung by a server at specific points during the mass, including at the Sanctus.324

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Gregorian chant
The Sanctus and Benedictus are probably from apostolic times. The usual Sanctus chants are neumatic. The Agnus Dei was brought into the Latin mass from the Eastern Church in the 7th century and is basically in neumatic style. The concluding Ite Missa Est and its substitute…
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The Sanctus and Benedictus are probably from apostolic times. The usual Sanctus chants are neumatic. The Agnus Dei was brought into the Latin mass from the Eastern Church in the 7th century and is basically in neumatic style. The concluding Ite Missa Est and its substitute…
Read More