The Mass has parts that never change — the Kyrie, the Sanctus, the Agnus Dei — and parts that change with each day and feast. These changing texts are called the propers of the Mass, and they are a hidden treasury of Scripture and prayer.
What are the propers?
The propers are the chants and prayers “proper” to a particular day. The principal sung propers are:
- The Introit — the entrance chant that opens the Mass and sets its theme.
- The Gradual (with the Alleluia or Tract) — sung between the readings, a meditative response to God’s Word.
- The Offertory — sung as the gifts are prepared.
- The Communion — sung as the faithful receive Our Lord.
Most of these texts are drawn from the Psalms and other parts of Scripture, carefully chosen to illuminate the feast or season.
A school of Scripture
Because the propers change through the year, they carry the faithful through a vast range of Scripture, especially the Psalms — the very prayer book of Israel and of the Church. Over the cycle of the year, the soul is steeped in the Word of God, not as cold study but as sung prayer. The propers are, in this sense, a gentle school of the Bible, teaching us to pray with the words God Himself has given.
How to follow them
A hand missal contains the propers for each day, with Latin and English side by side, so you can read along as they are chanted. Following the Introit at the start of Mass is a wonderful way to grasp the “theme” of the day; lingering over the Communion verse afterward can shape a beautiful thanksgiving. (See How to Follow the Mass with a Hand Missal.)
Far from being incidental, the propers are part of the genius of the Roman liturgy — an ever-changing setting of Scripture around the unchanging jewel of the Holy Sacrifice. Listen for them, and let them lead your heart through the year.