The Ars Brevis instructs the reader to perform votive masses as part of the magical experiment(s). There are two versions of the Ars Brevis, which describe what and how the magical experiment(s) are conducted. In one version, there is an understanding that there may only be a single magical experiment which is related to a single magical figure which takes place over the course of one week. The second version indicates that there may be up to four magical experiments and that the text presents the basic template of any one of these experiments which occurs over the course of four days. The number and frequency of votive masses depends upon which version is followed. The ritual procedures of the Ars Brevis is detailed in my book, Ars Notoria: The Notory Art of Solomon (Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 2023).
Here I have translated the votive Mass of the Holy Trinity from the 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal for those interested in experimenting with the Ars Brevis. According to one version, the votive Mass of the Holy Trinity is to be offered on Sunday. The Roman Missal, of course, was originally composed in Latin. Keep in mind that this is a Latin-to-English translation. Such translation work is another step away from the original biblical Hebrew and koine Greek. That is to say, this is not a Hebrew-to-English or a Greek-to-English translation. A NRSV or NRSV updated version will suffice to ensure accuracy and reliability of the following votive mass to meet modern day standards. For the general practitioner who is not concerned with the minutiae of language translation, the following English translation will suffice.
This blog entry is intended to supplement the work published in my book, and so the reader is directed to it for a proper introduction and English translation of the Ars Brevis.
Mass of the Most Holy Trinity
Introductory Rites
Antiphon for the Entrance
Blessed be the holy Trinity and also the indivisible Unity! We will confess it, because it appointed its mercy with us. (Tobit 12:6)
O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is your name in the entire world! (Psalm 9:2)
Versicle. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, and now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (The Minor Doxology)
Prayer
O all-powerful eternal God, who gave your servant, we ask for true faith in confession, to know the glory of the eternal Trinity, and to adore the Unity in the power of its majesty. So that we may always be defended from all adversities by the strength of the same faith. Through the Lord our Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in unity.
Liturgy of the Word
The Reading of the Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13: 11 and 13)
Brothers, rejoice, you will be perfected, encourage one another, and be discreet with one another, live in peace, and the God of peace and love will be with you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity of God, and may the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all you.
Gradual
Blessed are you, O Lord, you who beholds the abyss, and sits above the Cherubim.
Versicle. Blessed are you, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven, and praiseworthy in the ages.
Alleluia, alleluia. (Daniel 3:55-56)
Versicle. Blessed are you, O Lord our father God, and praiseworthy, and glorious, and exalted above in the ages. Alleluia. (Daniel 3:52)
(After Septuagesima Sunday, you omit ‘Alleluia’ and the following verse is to be said:)
Tract
We confess, praise, and bless you God, the unbegotten Father, you the only begotten Son, you Holy Spirit the Paraclete, the holy and undivided Trinity, with [our] entire heart.
Versicle. Since you are great, and making miracles, you alone are God.
Versicle. Praise to you, glory to you, O blessed Trinity, the action of graces in the everlasting ages. Alleluia, alleluia.
(The gradual is to be omitted at the time of Passover, and at its place the following is to be said:)
Versicle. Blessed are you, O Lord, God our father, and praiseworthy in the ages. Alleluia. (Daniel 3:52)
Versicle. We bless the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit. Alleluia.
Following the Holy Gospel according to John (John 15:26-27; 16, 1-4)
In that time, Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Paraclete comes, which I sent to you by the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, that one will give a testimony about me. And you will give a testimony, because you [have been] will me from the beginning. I have said these things to you so you do not stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues, but when the hour comes everyone who kills you, may believe [that by doing so, they are] to offer their allegiance to God. And they will do this to you, because they do not know the Father without me. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour will come, you remember, because I have spoken to you.”
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Antiphon at the Offertory
Blessed be God the Father, and the unbegotten Son of God, and also the Holy Spirit because [the Trinity] appointed its mercy with us. (Tobit 12:6)
The Secret
We ask you, O Lord our God, sanctify the invocation through your holy name, the host of this offering, and through that you perfect an eternal gift for ourselves to you. Through the Lord our Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in unity.
Preface of the Most Holy Trinity
Priest: The Lord be with you.
The people’s response: And also with you.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
The people’s response: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
The people’s response: It is right and just.
It is right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks,
O Lord, holy Father, the all-powerful eternal God.
For with your only begotten Son and the Holy Spirit
You are one God, you are one Lord:
Not in unity of a single person,
But in the Trinity of one substance.
For what you have revealed to us concerning your glory
We believe this without discretion about your Son,
[and] about the Holy Spirit,
so that, [what you have revealed to us] is to be adored
in confession of the true and eternal divinity
and the property in persons,
and the unity in substance,
and the equality in majesty.
For the Angels and Archangels praise,
The Cherubim also, and the Seraphim,
Who never cease to proclaim each day,
Speaking as one voice:
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of your glory!
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!
Antiphon to the Communion
We bless God of heaven, and we will confess it in the presence of every living thing, because [the Trinity] appointed its mercy with us. (Tobit 12:6)
After Communion
May it profit us to the well-being of the body and soul, O Lord our God, the acceptance of this sacrament, and I confess to the eternal hold Trinity, and the indivisible Unity. Through the Lord our Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in unity.
This blog entry's image of the Trinity Shield comes from William Peraldus' Summa Vitiorum, c. 1255-1265.
[This article is an expansion upon a passage from my Ars Notoria: The Notory Art of Solomon (Inner Traditions, 2023).]
This digital edition by Matthias Castle, Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Please do not copy this text to your website, or for any purpose other than private use.
Ars Notoria: The Notory Art of Solomon translated by Matthias Castle, published by Inner Traditions International and Bear & Company, © 2023. All rights reserved. http://www.Innertraditions.com Reprinted with permission of publisher.
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