In the Roman Rite, immediately before the Eucharistic Prayer begins, the entire Church prays the "Sanctus" or "Holy, Holy, Holy."
One of the primary signals in the Mass in the Roman Rite that the Eucharistic Prayer is about to begin is the "Sanctus" prayer.
It is typically said in the vernacular language, but many priests encourage their congregation to learn how to say it also in Latin.
This can also be helpful when attending a pontifical Mass, as very often the Mass parts are said or sung in Latin.
The text of this prayer in the Mass is taken straight from the book of Revelation in the Bible:
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:7-8)
The other part of the prayer is from the Gospel of Matthew:
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 Sanctus is meant to recall how Jesus is coming and how the Mass participates in the divine liturgy of Heaven, preparing us for that day when we will worship God with all the angels and saints united to God for all eternity.
The Sanctus in Latin
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,
Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra Gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Hosanna in excelsis.
The Sanctus in English
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord, God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna to God in the highest.
