Multiplicity of Masses (or How Many Permutations are Possible in the NO?)

Here is the post I mentioned in the introduction to the article I just shared from Dr Kwasniewski. This was originally posted a year ago today.

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Once upon a time you could go to any Roman Rite Church in the world and follow the Mass with ease. The Propers varied, of course, but the Ordinary was basically unvarying.

I live in the Diocese of Lincoln where the New Mass is celebrated strictly according to the rubrics. As Fr Zed would say, our Priests simply say the black and do the red. However, at Mass earlier, I got to thinking about the possible 'different' Masses that can be celebrated 'strictly according to the rubrics'.

So, when I got home, I sat down with my Missal and fired up the calculator. Now, I'm no mathematician, so I may be a bit off, but the figure is still ridiculous!

Ignoring the various permutations of readings such as alternative selections, or the option to truncate longer lessons, and taking no account of the three year Lectionary, using just the approved options, how many possibilities might you think there are? A hundred or so?

Well, let's run through the options. There are three options for the Priest to greet the people and five options for the penitential rite (the Confiteor, three 'penitential dialogues' and the Asperges). That's 15 possible permutations already, and we haven't gotten to the Collect yet!

At the Gospel, I took no account of the eight options for the Lenten replacement for the Alleluia, so my total is definitely going to be low!

After the homily, there is the option of either the Nicene or the Apostles Creed, and I won't even touch the 'Universal Prayer' where the Celebrant has free rein (unless he hands the reins to the reader!) See this post for my thoughts on the 'Universal Prayer' or the 'Prayers of the People', The Possible Infinity of 'Different' NO Masses and Problems With the 'Prayers of the People'.

Ignoring the variable Prefaces, which the Traditional Roman Rite also has, we come to the Eucharistic Prayer. If you're lucky, you'll probably only ever hear the first four, but there are ten (count 'em, ten!) approved Eucharistic Prayers! I did not include the seasonal Communicantes or the optional wording for Requiems as variables.

And here's where it gets fun! In the last few minutes of the Eucharistic Celebration, the options are mind boggling! The Celebrant has 20 choices for a Solemn Blessing and 28 choices for a Prayer over the people!

But, wait! We're not done yet! There are four different forms with which the Deacon or Priest can dismiss the people.

Thus we have 3*5*2*10*20*4 (using a Solemn Blessing) or 3*5*2*10*28*4 (using a Prayer over the people)  The first option gives a total of 24,000 possibilities and the second 33,600. That's a total of at least 57,600 'different' Masses that can be celebrated in strict conformity to the rubrics.

Upon re-reading this I realised that I forgot the three options for the 'Memorial Acclamation' in each of the Eucharistic Prayers. Thus, the actual total is (again, at least) 24,000*3+33,600*3=172,800 possible 'different' Masses celebrated in strict conformity to the rubrics!

And think of the literally millions of possibilities as soon as the rubrics start to get bent or broken!