The Sanctus

Psalm 90 says, “Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong.” My Uncle Frank lived more than 90 years. A few weeks before he passed, I knew he was ready for the transition. His face said it all. His skin was ashen gray and he was awake but silent. His lips were parted and his eyes, wide open, were fixed with a gaze that looked beyond my presence. The hint of a sparkle in his eyes told me he was looking at something glorious. It was as if Uncle Frank had one foot on the earth and the other in heaven. 

Stories of the dying often tell us that those who are near death are able to see glimpses of what awaits them. These stories reveal that the world beyond isn’t so far away after all. It is very near, in fact, it is here, present among all the living, even now.

Our participation in the liturgy helps us to see a bit of heaven by giving us an experience of heaven on earth. Perhaps this is best expressed by the Sanctus, (Holy, Holy, Holy) as the priest’s introduction asserts: “And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim: Holy, Holy, Holy …”

The Sanctus echoes several scripture passages. The first part of the Sanctus comes from the Book of the prophet Isaiah and the Book of Revelation:

“In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they hovered. One cried out to the other: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!’” Isaiah 6:1-3

“The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.’” Revelation 4:8

Both of these passages present a vision of heavenly worship. 

The second part of the Sanctus, the Benedictus, comes from the Book of Psalms and the Gospel of Matthew.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Psalm 118:26

     “The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying:

     ‘Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;

      hosanna in the highest.’” Matthew 21:9

The psalm describes the psalmist as he enters the temple to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. The Gospel depicts the scene as Jesus enters Jerusalem prior to his passion and death.

When we sing the Sanctus, our voices and the communion of voices who have gone before us are gathered into one great choir of praise. As I sing the Sanctus, I hear the voice of Uncle Frank. Whose voice do you hear?